A devastating discovery has shaken the community in Sydney’s south-west, as the body of a 31-year-old mother of five was found in a unit on Knox Street in Belmore earlier today.
Rapid Response to Concern for Welfare Call
Police were called to the scene just before 8 am, after a family member raised concerns about the woman’s welfare. Officers arrived just eight minutes later and forced entry into the unit, where they found the woman’s lifeless body.
A Violent Crime Scene
The police described the scene as “a very violent murder scene,” and a crime scene was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death. A 35-year-old man was arrested at 8:30 am and is currently being held at Campbelltown Police Station, assisting police with their inquiries.
History of Domestic Violence
The arrested man had an apprehended violence order (AVO) in place against him, having previously come under the notice of the domestic violence operation, Amarok. In August, he had a compliance check by Campsie police, which was deemed satisfactory. However, Superintendant Sheridan Waldau from NSW Police revealed that the man had a history of weapons offences and had been spoken to by police just on Monday regarding a minor incident at a school.
The Struggle to Prevent Domestic Violence
Superintendent Waldau emphasized the challenges in preventing domestic violence, stating that it’s a problem that affects the entire community, not just the police. “It’s very difficult to enforce these things if they don’t get reported… It’s not just a problem for police, it is a problem for the community.” She urged family members and friends of victims to come forward and report incidents, as it often takes victims up to 27 times before they seek help.
A Tragedy with No Winners
The incident has left five young children without a mother, and Superintendent Waldau lamented that “there are no winners in any of these home matters.” She emphasized that domestic violence is a societal problem that requires a collective effort to address. The 35-year-old man is expected to be charged with murder later today.