A man has been charged with murder following an alleged domestic violence-related stabbing that left a woman dead in North Queensland.
Queensland Police allege the incident occurred yesterday afternoon outside an address in Mighell, near Innisfail, about an hour’s drive south of Cairns.
Police said they believed the 51-year-old man was a former resident of the Scullen Avenue home where the incident took place, and had been in a de facto relationship with the deceased.
They said they believe the woman, who was in her 50s, attempted to seek assistance at the neighbouring house, on Spina Court.
She died at the scene.
Detective Acting Inspector Alina Bell said there was no current domestic violence order that applied to the man.
Man allegedly fled scene
Police said officers were initially called to the property for a welfare check at around 4:15pm, where they found a woman with life-threatening stab wounds.
They allege a man fled in a car before police arrived, and crashed that car into a truck on the Bruce Highway, in Sandy Pocket, a short time later.
They claim he then fled on foot, and allegedly attempted to steal another car from a woman nearby.
Detective Acting Inspector Bell claimed the man then “absconded into bushland”.
“Due to his medical condition at the time, from the injuries that we believe he sustained in the traffic accident, he was transported to the Innisfail Hospital and then further the Cairns.”
The man was arrested at around 6pm in Sandy Pocket.
At the time, police closed the highway and warned drivers to lock their vehicles and not stop for anyone who approached them.
The man’s case was adjourned today due to injuries police said he received in the crash.
He is expected to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on July 1.
Police have been conducting forensic work at the Scullen Avenue home today.
