A man will face court today charged with the murder of his wife in Woodhill, Queensland, after he allegedly ran her over with a tractor.
Emergency services were called to the rural property south of Brisbane, believed to be a sugar cane farm, on Thursday morning.
A 41-year-old woman was found with “significant injuries” following a “farm machinery incident”, according to Queensland Ambulance Service. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.
According to reports, the “slasher attachment” was on the tractor that the man allegedly used to kill the woman.
Following an investigation by the Logan Criminal Investigation Branch, police took the 44-year-old man into custody. He has been refused bail.
Queensland Police have charged the man with one count of murder (domestic violence offence) and one count of interfering with a corpse. He will face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Friday February 16.
Domestic violence in Queensland
Rates of domestic and family violence-related homicides in Queensland are on the rise, according to Queensland police data.
In the last year, deaths related to domestic and family violence rose by 50 per cent. Twenty-four people were allegedly murdered by intimate partners or family members in the last financial year, compared to 16 the previous year.
About a third of the alleged killers had either a domestic violence order against them or had contact with police in the 12 months before the deaths.
An Inquiry into Queensland Police Service from more than a year ago made these findings, along with 78 recommendations to curb the worrying statistics.
According to reports, police plan to spend the next two years recruiting 114 specialist officers to fill these roles and help staff vulnerable persons units, according to Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner for Domestic and Family Violence Christopher Jory.
Queensland police data also showed that in 2023, domestic violence rates saw a major increase from previous years, with officers receiving more than 171,000 family and domestic violence reports.
This year, family and domestic violence has taken the lives of eight women, according to statistics from Destroy the Joint’s Counting Dead Women. In 2023, 63 women were killed.
At least one woman is killed by an intimate partner every week in this country, although last year’s statistics exceeded this estimate. Indigenous women are eight times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be murdered by domestic and family violence. One in six women have experience physical or sexual violence by a partner.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au or text 0458 737 732.
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 www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In an emergency, call 000.