Man charged with murder after woman dies in alleged domestic violence incident in Katherine
A man is accused of murdering his partner in the Northern Territory, prompting a call for more funding for domestic violence support services.
On Monday, a “distressed man” on O’Shea Tce in Katherine, 400km south of Darwin, sparked multiple calls to police about 9.10pm.
Police arrived to find a 22-year-old woman nearby.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Despite efforts to perform CPR, she was pronounced deceased by St John Ambulance shortly after,” police said.
Police arrested a 36-year-old man, who has been confirmed as the victim’s partner, and described the incident as a “domestic violence-related death”.
Major Crime detectives on Wednesday charged him with one count of murder over the death.
He was also charged with aggravated assault for a separate historic incident against the same woman.
He has been remanded to face Darwin Local Court on Thursday.
Katherine Women’s Legal Service chief executive Siobhan Mackay on Tuesday said it was the second domestic violence related death in the small town since July.
“It’s shattering for us that work in the space,” she said.
“We’ve been crying out for so long, rattling all the doors we can, about the funding crisis that faces the entire domestic violence sector across the country.
“Every day that goes past without significant change in this space, women continue to be at risk of violence and death.”
Mackay said there was an urgent need to boost funding for immediate safe housing, long-term housing and services in the outback town.
“We don’t have short-term accommodation, we don’t have visitor-accommodation, we don’t have medium-term accommodation and public housing waitlists are somewhere between eight-to-10 years for a priority application,” she said.
Domestic violence in the local community was so rampant that it consumed “almost the entirety of the courts’ business”.
“There are only eight matters on today’s court list that are not related to domestic violence,” she said.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call 000.
Advice and counselling for men concerned about their use of family violence: Men’s Referral Service, 1300 766 491.
- With AAP
Originally published on 7NEWS
