[ad_1]
Police have launched a homicide investigation after a woman was found dead in a Gold Coast backyard with burn injuries.
A 35-year-old man, who police believe may have been her former partner, was located in a “semiconscious state” two blocks away shortly after, also with burn injuries.
A concerned neighbour called police at 6.40am on Tuesday after hearing a disturbance on Spikes Court in Arundel.
Upon their arrival, police found the woman’s body in the backyard and the man nearby. He was suffering from burn marks to his hands and airway, and taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition, where he remains under police guard.
Police have confirmed one of their lines is inquiry is whether he had lit a fire that subsequently killed the woman.
Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said three children, all under the age of nine, were believed to have been at the home at the time.
It remains unclear what their relationship is to the woman, and whether the woman or the man lived at the address, but police will investigate whether the home has been the subject of domestic violence reports in the past.
“We still need to positively identify this person, we don’t know if she lived alone … One of our lines of investigation is determining whether she had a connection to the house,” Detective Ahearn said.
“We’re interested to determine whether there was a relationship between these two people and whether there’s previous history.”
A crime scene has been declared and the whole area is being canvased, including the suspension of rubbish collection as police comb for evidence.
“The forensic examination will take some time,” Detective Ahearn said.
“There may be further evidence that has left that scene. Our intention is to lock that area down and determine (whether that is the case).”
Detective Ahearn said at this stage police were not focusing their inquiries elsewhere, but would “keep an open mind.”
“We believe he has a link to that house,” Detective Ahearn said.
ellen.ransley@news.com.au
[ad_2]
Source link
