A 37-year-old man faces murder charges after a woman’s body was found with a gunshot wound in the Hunter Valley region on Saturday night.
A sawn-off shotgun and ammunition were allegedly found in the man’s car when New South Wales police took him into custody.
The arrest came after emergency services were called to a home in Kearsley on Friday night.
Officers found a 39-year-old woman dead at the residence.
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Police on Saturday alerted the public that they wanted to speak with a man before they received a tip that he had been seen in Bellbird.
Hunter Valley Supt Steve Laksa said the death of the woman had involved a “traumatic incident”.
“It was quite horrific for family members, all involved, and her three children,” he told reporters on Saturday.
One of the children was understood to have run to a neighbour’s property to find help.
The man arrested on Saturday was charged with murder, possessing a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without holding a licence.
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He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta local court on Sunday.
In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.
