Son discovers mother killed in chilling alleged axe attack before relative charged with murder in Melbourne
The 44-year-old woman was allegedly killed in an axe attack and found by her son hours later, surrounded by blood in an upstairs hallway of her townhouse on Gottloh St at Epping about 5.45pm on Thursday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Homicide detectives investigate brutal murder.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The victim’s son rushed to a neighbour’s house to call triple-0, but was too late to save his mother.
7NEWS understands the she had been attacked about 9.45am that morning.
Her alleged killer, a 50-year-old Rockbank man who 7NEWS understands is a relative of the woman, is understood to have come prepared for the alleged violence, while the victim’s husband is overseas.
CCTV captured a Toyota Camry without number plates pull up outside of the woman’s home for 25 minutes on the morning of her death.
The alleged killer arrived wearing a boiler suit, and changed clothes before driving away, 7NEWS understands.
An axe was also allegedly left inside the home, 7NEWS understands.
Theory of conflict
Neighbour Ross Albinelli told 7NEWS that the woman’s son was in shock when he arrived at his door.
“He just came home and he found her dead with blood all over the place,” Albinelli said.
“He was kind of in shock and he walked away and he didn’t know what to do.
“I would have been punching walls if it were me, but he was very, very composed.”
Albinelli said the victim’s son told him that he suspected the killer was a relative, and that their alleged murder could be due to conflict within the family and “a bad relationship with the mum”.
A 50-year-old Rockbank man was arrested in Epping on Thursday night and charged with murder.
Police have confirmed that he and the victim are known to each other.
Detectives were seen testing keys, which 7NEWS understands were found with the suspect, in the front door of the victim’s home.
Police have also cordoned off a large property opposite the victim’s home, where semi-trailers are parked and stored, as investigations are ongoing.
The Rockbank man appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday and remains before the courts, as the homicide investigation continues.
—With reporting by Paul Dowsley
Originally published on 7NEWS
