A 31-year-old man has been charged with murder after a woman was discovered with critical head injuries at a home in northern NSW.
NSW Police were called to a home on Johnston Street, Casino, following reports of a concern for welfare at about 2.30am on Saturday morning.
Officers attached to Richmond Police District arrived to try and assist a critically injured woman, aged in her 40s, but she died at the scene.
Earlier on Saturday, police said a 31-year-old Casino man – believed to be known to the woman – was assisting with inquiries at Lismore Police Station.
The man has since been charged with one count of murder and has been refused bail to appear in Lismore Bail Court on Sunday, June 30.
The woman is yet to be formally identified.
A crime scene has been established and a critical incident team from Tweed/Byron Police District will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident – including all aspects of the response from NSW Police.
That investigation will be subject to an independent review.
The investigation will focus on why it took police up to an hour to respond to a triple-zero emergency call.
NSW Police said they were called to a home on Johnston Street (pictured), Casino, following reports of a concern for welfare at about 2.30am on Saturday morning
A 31-year-old Casino man has been arrested and charged with one count of murder (stock)
It’s believed the call may have been incorrectly prioritised, reported The Daily Telegraph.
‘The situation is that a call was made to 000 shortly after 1.30am this morning,’ said NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna on Saturday afternoon.
‘Police acknowledged that call around 2:25am and were at the scene by 2,27am. The delay in the timing of police acknowledging that call and attending the scene has given me enough concern that I’ve asked for an independent review of this investigation as to what that delay was and if it was justified or otherwise…’
The Asst Commissioner confirmed the man and woman had been in a domestic relationship ‘for some months’.
Neighbours reportedly heard screaming at the single story home at around 1.30 am but police did not arrive until 2.30 am.
They attempted to assist the woman, who was suffering from critical head injuries, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad are assisting officers from Richmond Police District in their investigations into the woman’s death.
Anyone with information in relation to the incident is urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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