Domestic violence investigation underway after woman, 78, found dead in a Canberra home and her husband, 86, is arrested
The death of a 78-year-old woman is being treated as one domestic violence murder with her elderly husband under police guard in the hospital and no other suspects are being sought.
Officers were called to a home in Gordon, south of Canberra, about 7.30am on Sunday for a welfare check.
They found the woman’s body in her Togo Place home.
Detective Acting Chief Inspector Stephen Ladd said police arrested the woman’s 86-year-old husband at a house about 10km north-east of Fadden.
The man is under police guard in hospital and is being treated for a possible heart attack.
A police investigation is underway after a 78-year-old woman was found dead in a home in Canberra’s south
No charges have been filed.
“We are treating this as suspicious and treating it as a homicide investigation,” Chief Inspector Ladd told reporters.
Police declined to provide details of the crime scene or the woman’s injuries, saying an autopsy would determine the cause of death.
Chief Inspector Ladd said he did not believe other people were involved and the couple were not previously known to police.
“At this stage the man is clearly helping us with our queries and because of that family relationship we are treating this as a domestic violence incident,” he said.
“Incidents like these are tragic and my sincere sorrow goes out to my friends and family.
‘If you think there are issues with mental or physical health, especially as people get older, please reach out and talk to someone and get the help they need to avoid situations like this.’
An 86-year-old man has been arrested and is assisting police
It has not been revealed how the woman died, but police say it is believed to be a domestic violence incident at this stage
Meanwhile, a 43-year-old man has also been arrested in connection with the death of a woman in Darwin.
Northern Territory police said they received reports of an unconscious woman at a home in Coconut Grove in the city’s north about 12.30pm on Sunday.
A 36-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 43-year-old man reported to police at the home and was arrested, NT Police said in a statement on Sunday.
He remains in custody.
The man and woman are probably known to each other.
A crime scene has been declared and the investigation is ongoing.
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