Family pay tribute to ‘beloved brother and uncle’ as son charged with murder of his 79-year-old father

The family of Anthony Lavender, who was found dead at a house in Old Swan last month, have paid tribute to their “beloved brother and uncle” on what would have been his 80th birthday.

Mr Lavender was discovered by police on 29 December after responding to reports of a domestic incident at a property on Woodhall Road around 23:50 that night.

Officers found Mr Lavender collapsed with a head injury at the address. North West Ambulance Service attended and commenced CPR but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 37-year-old man, later revealed to be his son David Lavender, was arrested and has now been charged with murder and remanded in custody.

What’s been said

Mr Lavender’s family issued the following tribute: “Tony, our beloved brother and uncle, should have celebrated his 80th birthday today, but tragically, it was not to be.

“Tony was a kind and generous man who lived his life to the full and will be missed by all those who knew him.

“As a family, we would like to extend our thanks to the officers and paramedics who tried to save Tony, and to say thank you to his friends and neighbours for their beautiful words and the floral tributes left for him.

“We will make sure that Tony is not forgotten.”