A 20-year-old woman has died following an alleged domestic assault in the New South Wales Hunter Valley. Police were called to a home in Rutherford, north-west of Maitland, about 4:45am on Monday, where the woman was treated by paramedics but could not be revived.
A 30-year-old man known to the woman was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with domestic violence murder. Police say the pair had been in a domestic relationship for about a year, with no prior reports of domestic violence.
The man was refused bail and is scheduled to appear before Bail Division Local Court on Tuesday. Neighbour Mel Baker expressed shock, describing the incident as devastating for the community, which includes many families with children.
Port Stephens-Hunter Police District Commander Superintendent Wayne Humphrey called the situation tragic and reiterated that domestic violence is a scourge affecting the entire state. The investigation is ongoing.
