- Neighbours say victim well-behaved, playful
- Safety barriers fast-tracked after tragedy
- Hand-written note in accused dad's home
A MAN accused of throwing his daughter off Melbourne's West Gate Bridge has been described as a wonderful dad by shocked neighbours.
Arthur Phillip Freeman, 35, was yesterday charged with murder after he allegedly threw his four-year-old daughter Darcey off the bridge and into the water below.
The Geelong Advertiser reported Mr Freeman's childhood neighbours in the Geelong suburb of Whittington said he was often seen playing with his children when the family returned for a visit.
A family friend said the accused had been under "enormous pressure" but would not elaborate on his circumstances.
"He was a wonderful dad and he loved his children, it's all just very sad," she said.
Another neighbour said Mr Freeman's children would often play with her grandchildren and he was in the neighbourhood with his three kids last week.Â
"He was quite polite. He would yell at his kids like everyone does but it was nothing to worry you," she said.
She said Darcey was an intelligent girl who was very open and always wanted to play.
Safety barriers
Earlier, Victorian Premier John Brumby said he would do all he could to speed up the installation of safety barriers on the West Gate Bridge.
Video: See what the barriers would look like »Mr Brumby said the state Government held emergency talks with VicRoads yesterday in the wake of the tragedy and plans for the barriers were already being drawn up.
"We are committed to putting in place the safety barriers on the bridge, we will do anything humanly possible to speed this up," he told ABC radio.
"When we commited to the bridge project we had a long discussion about the issue of the safety barriers. There has been a difference of opinion about whether this is the right thing to do.  We received different advice about it."
A shell-shocked Mr Brumby said he "just shuddered" when he heard about the tragedy.
Note
A handwritten note found in the home of Mr Freeman yesterday spoke of "keeping a clear head".Â
"You have a big fight on your hands and by no stretch of the imagination will it be easy," the note read.
Doctors and paramedics fought to save the little girl but she died from massive internal injuries about four hours after she was pulled from the river by water police. It is alleged she had plunged nearly 60m.
Mr Freeman was too mentally disturbed to appear in court late yesterday, which was told he was on suicide watch. The Hawthorn IT consultant was remanded in custody until May 21.
Acting Det-Sgt Damian Jackson told the court a forensic medical officer described Mr Freeman as being in an acute psychiatric state.Â
"The forensic medical officer had concerns he was suicidal and could self harm."
Defence lawyer Elanor Peattie said Mr Freeman told her he was content to be dealt with "in his absence".
- with reporting by Aleks Devic, Norrie Ross, Fiona Hudson, Paul Anderson
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24983973-2,00.html
**NOTE THIS HAPPENED IN Australia**
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