A 32-year-old woman has been charged with murder after police discovered the body of a four-year-old boy at a home in Wyong on the New South Wales Central Coast. The child was found with significant arm injuries late on Saturday afternoon.
Police investigation details
Police were alerted after the woman presented to the local police station on Saturday. Officers attempted to speak with her but were unsuccessful. A subsequent search of her residence led to the discovery of the child's body. Tuggerah Lakes police district commander, Superintendent Chad Gillies, told reporters on Sunday morning that the woman lived alone with the child and had a “domestic relationship” with him.
The woman, who was known to police, drove to the station, triggering the search. Officers declared a crime scene, arrested the woman, and seized her car and other evidence. Gillies described the scene as “extremely confronting” even for experienced officers.
Charges and court appearance
The woman was charged on Sunday with murder (domestic violence). During a brief hearing, her lawyer Neusha Ghahreman did not apply for bail. The case was adjourned until 1 September.
“Whenever a child is a victim of violent crime, and whenever a child is [allegedly] murdered, it strikes at the core of community,” Gillies said. “That is why it is absolutely important we work through this methodically. We try to understand what’s happened [and] why it’s happened.”
Ongoing investigation
Police remained at the scene on Sunday morning, with the homicide squad assisting. Formal identification of the child is pending, and police are working with the family. “We are still in the infancy stages of this investigation,” Gillies added.
