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Australia

Homicide detectives probe potential domestic violence link in fatal Ayr house fire

Firefighters stand stand to a burnt-out home

Detectives have launched a homicide investigation after a suspicious house fire in north Queensland claimed a woman’s life.

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said detectives believed the fire was deliberately lit.

The 47-year-old woman suffered severe burns and died in hospital after the blaze in the rural town of Ayr on Tuesday morning.

The woman’s partner, a 65-year-old man, remains in a serious condition in the Royal Brisbane Hospital and police have been unable to speak with him.

Police attended the home for a welfare check just hours before the blaze broke out and spoke to the couple.

A police officer and fire fighter stand outside a burnt-out home surrounded by police tape
The burnt-out home was declared a crime scene.(ABC North Qld: Baz Ruddick)

Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said that interaction was now the subject of an internal police review.

“We don’t want to rule anything out at this stage and we don’t want to speculate — until we actually speak with this male [it] it is difficult for us to establish exactly what the reasoning behind the whole incident was,” he said.

“The man and woman were in a domestic relationship and there was a current domestic violence protection order protecting the 47-year-old female.

“We’re working closely with the staff at the hospital to ensure that as soon as [the man] is able to, he will be speaking with the police.”

Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said the domestic violence order had been in place since 2018 and did not prohibit the couple from living together.

He said they had lived at the property in Ayr for about a year before the fire and were known to police.

A police officer in uniform stands in front of police signage
Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson in Townsville.(ABC North Qld: Lily Nothling)

He said officers had been called to the property before the fire.

“We received a call for a request for service and we attended the scene,” he said.

“At that stage, police received assistance from the Queensland Ambulance Service to conduct investigations into the matter that was before them, and as a result of that they left both parties at the address.

“It’s not a great result and that’s why we have the Ethical Standards Command and the CCC [Crime and Corruption Commission] overviewing the investigation into that initial interaction with the couple.”

Police have been doorknocking residents in Ayr and have urged anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to contact them.

“The Queensland Police Service has launched a homicide investigation, codenamed Operation Uniform Turmeric, in relation to this investigation,” Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said.

“Our investigators will be looking to glean as much information from the community around the couple and what their interactions were with them.”

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Categories
Australia

Woman dies in north Queensland hospital after Ayr house fire as crime scene established

A police officer and fire fighter stand outside a burnt-out home surrounded by police tape

A woman has died and a man is fighting for life after a house fire in Queensland’s north.

The couple suffered severe burns in the blaze, which gutted their home in the rural town of Ayr early Tuesday.

The 47-year-old woman and 65-year-old man were flown to hospital in critical conditions. Police later confirmed the woman had died.

Police have declared a crime scene at the property as they investigate the cause of the fire.

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said police officers and paramedics had attended the property only hours before the blaze in response to welfare concerns.

“Police received a call in relation to some comments that were made at the residence so they went and attended and spoke to both residents that were there at the time,” he said.

A burnt-out house surrounded by police tape with an officer sitting under a tent
Police attended the Ayr home only hours before the fire began.(ABC North Qld: Baz Ruddick)

Neighbors raised the alarm about three hours later just after 5:30am when they spotted flames coming from the house.

“Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service responded to two people who were very severely burned, so there’s obviously graphic scenes around that,” Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said.

A man in his 20s who tried to help was taken to hospital in a stable condition suffering from smoke inhalation.

Couple known to police

Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said a crime scene had been established and investigations were underway.

“We haven’t established the actual cause of the fire at this point, so until we can actually sign up exactly what’s occurred, then we’re not going to speculate as to how the fire started,” he said.

A house blackened and gutted by fire
The Ayr home was gutted in the blaze.(ABC North Qld: Baz Ruddick)

He said the man and woman were in a relationship.

“It’s not the first time the police have had dealings with this couple,” he said.

Queensland Ambulance Service Assistant Commissioner Matthew Green said it was a confronting incident for first responders.

“[It’s] a fairly tragic situation as far as I’m concerned and at the moment we’re just looking after the welfare of our staff that have had to attend that event,” he said.

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Categories
Australia

Crime scene declared as north Queensland house fire leaves couple hospitalized with burns

A police officer and fire fighter stand outside a burnt-out home surrounded by police tape

Two people are fighting for their lives and a crime scene has been declared after a house fire in Queensland’s north.

A 47-year-old woman and 65-year-old man suffered severe burns in the blaze, which gutted the home in the rural town of Ayr early this morning.

They were flown to a Townsville hospital in a critical condition and are receiving treatment.

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said police officers and paramedics had attended the property only hours before the fire to respond to mental health concerns.

“Police received a call in relation to some comments that were made at the residence, so they went and attended and spoke to both residents that were there at the time,” he said.

A burnt-out house surrounded by police tape with an officer sitting under a tent
Police attended the Ayr home only hours before the fire began.(ABC North Qld: Baz Ruddick)

Neighbors raised the alarm about three hours later just after 5:30am when they spotted flames coming from the house.

“Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service responded to two people who were very severely burned, so there’s obviously graphic scenes around that,” Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said.

A man in his 20s who tried to help was taken to hospital in a stable condition suffering from smoke inhalation.

Couple known to police

Acting Chief Superintendent Lawson said a crime scene had been established and investigations were underway.

“We haven’t established the actual cause of the fire at this point, so until we can actually sign up exactly what’s occurred, then we’re not going to speculate as to how the fire started,” he said.

“We’re in constant contact with Queensland Health in relation to the condition of both parties, so as soon as we’re able to, we’ll speak to both parties.”

A house blackened and gutted by fire
The Ayr home was gutted in the blaze. (ABC North Qld: Baz Ruddick)

Police said the man and woman were in a relationship.

“It’s not the first time the police have had dealings with this couple,” he said.

Queensland Ambulance Service Assistant Commissioner Matthew Green said it was a confronting incident for first responders.

“[It’s] a fairly tragic situation as far as I’m concerned and at the moment we’re just looking after the welfare of our staff that have had to attend that event,” he said.

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