Australia police
Stephen Chapman was alleged stabbed by his son during an argument over computer time [representational image] Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

A 20-year-old man from Sydney has been charged with murder and his bail rejected following allegations that he stabbed his father in a dispute over computer time.

Australian police said 56-year-old Stephen Chapman was stabbed several times during an argument with his son Daniel Chapman at their home in Moorebank, near Liverpool, at around 8.40pm local time (10.30am BST) on Sunday night. In spite of the efforts of paramedics to revive him, the victim died on his way to the hospital. The assailant was later arrested and charged with murder.

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Liverpool police detective chief inspector Ken Hardie told ABC: "I believe the son uses the internet quite regularly and when he is asked to come to the dinner table he continues on."

He added that the victim's wife was at home when the incident occurred but was unharmed. "She was not aware of [the incident] until after it occurred. Now a family of three people ... now poor old mother is going to be by herself for a long while, more than likely."

He also said the computer had been the cause of conflict in the house for a fair amount of time.

The 20-year-old was held at the Liverpool police station on Sunday night but did not apply for bail when he appeared before Parmatta court on Monday and the bail was formally refused. He is due to appear at a local court on Wednesday.

His lawyer Adam Ly suggested that mental health issues could be a factor. He told Sydney Morning Herald: "All I can say is that it's a real tragedy for the family — very, very sad for the family."