Heartbroken dad Shane Martin battled depression for years after being cut off from his AFL hero son Dustin Martin, but mystery still surrounds his death in New Zealand.
Detectives have ruled out anything criminal behind the tragedy and it’s understood Mr Martin 54, did not self-harm.
But question marks still remain after police closed the investigation without a post mortem or inquest after establishing there were no suspicious circumstances.
The body of the former Rebels bikie boss was found at his home in Mount Maunganui, on the Bay of Plenty, 200km south-east of Auckland, on Saturday.
Heartbroken dad Shane Martin (pictured) battled depression for years after being cut off from his AFL hero son Dustin Martin, but mystery still surrounds his death in New Zealand
The tattooed Maori hardman was devastated to be cut off from his Dustin Martin (pictured) and his family, decades after he moved across the Tasman and met Dustin’s mother, Kathy Knight
The dad of three had been living in New Zealand since he was kicked out of Australia in 2016, when his visa was cancelled over his gangland connections.
The tattooed Maori hardman was devastated to be cut off from his family, decades after he moved across the Tasman Sea and met Dustin’s Australian mother, Kathy Knight.
‘I was depressed and angry for a while and took it out on my wife a bit,’ he revealed in 2019. ‘It wasn’t her fault but she stood strong. Now we’re living together.
‘We’d just got married, two weeks after that I got deported, separated for nearly three years.’
Dad of three Shane Martin (pictured with Richmond Tigers hero son Dustin Martin) had been living in New Zealand since he was kicked out of Australia in 2016 when his visa was cancelled over his gangland connections
The body of the former Rebels bikie boss was found at his home on Terrace Avenue in Mount Maunganui (pictured), on the Bay of Plenty, 200km south-east of Auckland, on Saturday
He had to watch his son win in Richmond Tigers’ 2019 and 2020 grand final victories on television from New Zealand after a bid to fly over was thwarted.
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‘It’s pretty hard to see it on TV when I should be there, really, but that’s another story,’ he admitted in 2020.
‘It’s still a proud moment but I would have loved to be there, but yeah, you know, it is what it is, don’t want to take the moment away from it.’
Covid restrictions meant even triple Norm Smith medallist Dustin, 30, was unable to fly over to New Zealand until April this year, and he begged authorities to have pity.
Shane Martin had to watch his son win in Richmond Tigers’ 2019 and 2020 grand final victories on television from New Zealand after a bid to fly over was thwarted
Detectives have ruled out anything criminal behind the tragedy and it’s understood Shane Martin, 54, (pictured in Auckland with Australian actress Rachel Griffiths) did not self-harm
‘It’s been a massive challenge, but it is what it is,’ Martin said in March
‘I love my dad and he’s made me the man I am today. I’ve got full belief he’ll back here to watch us win another flag.
‘That’s my dream to be able to have the old man up there [in the grandstand] with the rest of my family and watch the Tiges win another flag.’
Shane’s final attempt to return to Australian ended in frustration when he was held at Sydney Airport by Australian Border Force in February 2020 before he was sent home again.
A final attempt by Shane Martin (pictured) to return to Australian ended in frustration when he was held at Sydney Airport by Australian Border Force in February 2020 before he was turned around and sent home again
‘It s***s me that you can’t keep in contact with people who have been a big part of your life,’ he fumed.
‘I met some really good, respectful people, I don’t regret it. It sort of annoys me how people look down on bikies, or clubbies. They do have morals, respect and loyalty.
‘They respect what I’m fighting for and vice versa.’
Source: Daily Mail
