A bar owner has been accused of murdering an Australian tourist in Bali by allegedly beating him to death with a stool.
Troy Scott Johnston, 40, allegedly got into an argument with Gede Wijaya, 20, at Uncle Benz Cafe in South Kuta just before 4am on Thursday.
Johnston, who worked for mining giant Rio Tinto at Perth airport, is alleged to have urinated on Wijaya before the altercation escalated and Wijaya allegedly hit him over the head with a bar stool.
Wijaya has since been arrested and charged with murder.
Troy Scott Johnston, 40 (pictured), allegedly got into an argument with Gede Wijaya at Uncle Benz Cafe in South Kuta just before 4am on Thursday.
Wijaya has since been arrested and charged with murder following Thursday’s altercation.
Mr Johnston was on holiday in Indonesia with his wife Ni Nyoman Purnianti and their young son when he went out drinking on Wednesday night.
His wife became concerned after he did not return to their accommodation at 3 am and decided to search for her husband with the help of her brother.
The couple found Johnston unconscious and lying in a pool of his own blood at the cafe owned by Wijaya before 4 a.m. Thursday.
Mr Johnston was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.
Mr Johnston is believed to have died after being hit over the head with a wooden stool after a fight broke out in the cafe.
His heartbroken wife and co-workers paid tribute to the father and the airport controller on social media.
Wijaya told a police news conference that Mr Johnston was drunk and had been “throwing bottles in the street”.
He claimed that Mr Johnston had “urinated on my left leg… I tried to tell him to leave it to him”. But he came in and threw glass glasses at me.’
“He was drunk and he lost control… I tried to calm him down,” he said.
“I am very sorry and I have no intention of doing that because I know him very well, so I have no intention of doing that.”
However, police allege that Wijaya was also drinking before the fight broke out.
“Wijaya was attacked and beaten, they both struggled on the ground, Scott got up quickly, grabbed a chair and threw it at Wijaya,” they said.
The bar owner allegedly grabbed Johnston’s bar stool and hit his head, leaving him with serious head injuries.
Uncle Benz Cafe was temporarily closed after the alleged altercation between the brothers-in-law.
Mr Johnston’s wife recalled the moment she found her husband unconscious and lying in a pool of his own blood.
“I found him already on the ground with a lot of blood,” he told 7News.
She told police that her husband left around 7:30 p.m. and that she and her brother had gone looking for him when he did not return at 3:45 a.m.
“At 10:30 p.m. Purnianti contacted Scott and he responded that he was still drinking,” police said.
Purnianti and his brother were shocked after discovering that Johnston was lying in a pool of blood on the terrace of the Uncle Benz cafe.
Mr. Johnston had been employed by Rio Tinto at their Perth airport hub as airport controller.
Mr Johnston’s wife recalled the moment she found her husband unconscious and lying in a pool of his own blood.
News of his death reached his co-workers on Friday, according to The West.
“We are devastated by the news that one of the most loved and valued members of our team has tragically passed away abroad,” a Rio Tinto spokesman said.
A spokesman for his employer, mining giant Rio Tinto, said the company was providing support to family members and loved ones.
“We are devastated by the news that one of the most beloved and valued members of our team has tragically passed away abroad,” the statement read.
“Troy’s colleagues are deeply saddened and we are providing them with access to a variety of support services.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Troy’s family and friends.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.
