An investigation is underway after a woman was allegedly stabbed to death by a housemate in Sydney’s inner west on Thursday.
Police were called to the home in Clements Street, Russell Lea at about 11am on Thursday, after reports of a domestic incident. Police said a member of the public heard a woman screaming for help.
When officers arrived, they found the body of a woman, believed to be in her 50s, with multiple stab wounds to her upper body.
A 42-year-old male, who was known to the woman, was arrested at the scene, with officials saying the man had moved into the residence only two to three weeks ago and was known to the other occupants.
Early this morning, police confirmed he had been charged with murder and refused bail.
The man has a criminal history of non-violent driving and drug-related offences.
He’s due to appear in Parramatta Local Court today.
Speaking at a press conference, Superintendent Christine McDonald said that the three other housemates were home at the time of the woman’s death, and that they are “very distressed”.
Superintendent McDonald also said the death is being investigated as a domestic violence incident given the pair lived together but it is not believed they were in an intimate relationship.
She told media on Thursday afternoon that it was “very clear it is a homicide”, and that officers were on the scene one minute after the call was made by a member of the public.
“Police responded rapidly knowing that the triple-0 call had mentioned that a female was screaming and needed help,” she said.
“The victim suffered significant and multiple injuries to her upper body. In relation to the weapon, we’re talking stab wounds, so it is a bladed instrument.”
Male violence epidemic
This tragedy marks the 37th woman whose life was stolen by violence in Australia this year, according to Destroy the Joint’s tracking.
It also comes amid alarming statistics released by the ABS on Thursday, showing the number of sexual assaults reported to police are at a record high.
The number of victim-survivors of sexual assault recorded by police rose by 11 per cent in 2023, the 12th straight annual rise, according to the latest ABS figures.
Samantha McNally, ABS head of crime and justice statistics said: “This is the highest rate of sexual assault victim-survivors recorded in our 31-year dataset.”
The majority of sexual assault victim-survivors were female (84 per cent), with more than two in three sexual assaults taking place in a residential location.
Women are more likely to experience violence from someone they know than by a stranger, according to Our Watch. And, in Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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