Dawesville assault: Police upgrade Donald Wade Davies’ charge to murder over death of Clinton Macdonald

A 35-year-old man charged over the fatal assault of a man outside a Dawesville service station has had his charge upgraded to murder. Homicide detectives initially charged Donald Wade Davies, 35, with causing grievous bodily harm to 45-year-old Clinton Macdonald on April 26. However, on Tuesday, police revealed that charge had been upgraded to murder. Mr Davies appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court via video link from Casuarina Prison on Tuesday, where Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Narelle Williams made an application to discontinue the grievous bodily harm charge and replace it with a murder charge. Magistrate Leanne Atkins read the new charge to Mr Davies to confirm he understood it, to which he replied “I understand”. Mr Davies was remanded in custody with bail not considered, and will make his next court appearance at Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on June 26. Police allege he and Mr Macdonald, who were known to each other, were involved in a physical altercation near the Ampol service station before the Mr Macdonald died. Emergency services were called to the Old Coast Road and Bailey Boulevard intersection about 3.40am that morning, where they found Mr Macdonald unresponsive. He was rushed to Peel Health Campus by ambulance but later died. Tributes flowed for Mr Macdonald in the wake of his death, afternoon, as friends remembered the 45-year-old for his “cheeky smile” and being a “top good funny bloke”.