Pit bull man's murder may be revenge killing

A revenge attack may have led to the brutal bashing death of a man previously convicted for setting his pit bulls on people in three separate incidents.

Police found the body of Scott Hammond, 48, about 5.30pm (AEST) on Monday in his Tahmoor home, south of Sydney, after a friend became concerned for his welfare.

He was well known to police and understood to have many enemies.

"It is consistent with being a brutal bashing," Acting Superintendent Danny Doherty said on Tuesday.

The "targeted incident" may have been a retaliation attack on Mr Hammond.

"We're looking at that line of inquiry," he said.

The crime scene did not reveal evidence of a struggle, police said, and the incident was unusual for the semi-rural and close-knit community.

"If you stayed on the right side of him he was a good bloke," one woman told reporters at the scene.

"I know he had a lot of enemies."

Mr Hammond's body was found in his living room and a pit bull, suffering paralysis, was also found at the property.

"We don't know if that was connected to this incident," Act Supt Doherty said.

He pleaded guilty 12 months ago to using his pit bull terriers, Chocka and Girlie, to attack and wound a teenage boy and three men in three separate incidents at Tahmoor.

He was handed a seven-month suspended sentence, ordered to pay $14,336 and destroy both dogs.

Hammond was also banned from owning a dog.

He lived alone in the dilapidated home and did not appear to have any outlaw motorcycle gang connections.

Detectives are trying to establish the events leading to Mr Hammond's death but they estimate he was murdered some time on Monday.

Police are still searching for a murder weapon and are trying to determine if the killer broke in before the assault began.

The wildlife rescue organisation WIRES had been called in to remove a number of other animals.

"He had a bit of a variety of different wildlife," Act Supt Doherty said.

The local council removed the injured dog and placed it in a pound.

Detectives have yet to establish if the dog defended its owner, or if any forensic evidence, such as DNA, was transferred to the animal during the attack.

Police have yet to identify any potential persons of interest but are investigating a number of lines of inquiry.

"It's a concern that a person's been killed in this manner," Acting Supt Danny Doherty said.

"We're hoping someone in the community would know who it is."

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