A man previously acquitted of a toddler’s murder has been charged with a string of offences after a woman was found dead in a home in Victoria.
Emma Bates was found dead inside a Campbell Rd home in Cobram, in far north Victoria, about 2.15pm on Tuesday.
The 49-year-old was discovered on the floor of the house with significant head and upper body injuries, the Herald Sun reports.
Police on Wednesday charged John Torney, 39, with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, common law assault, aggravated assault of a female and unlawful assault.
“The parties are believed to be known to each other,” police said in a statement.
It’s been reported Ms Bates and Mr Torney, who lived next door to each other, had begun a relationship.
Mr Torney, originally from Queensland, was previously acquitted of the 2015 murder of his then partner’s two-year-old daughter, Nikki Coslovich.
The toddler’s body was discovered in the roof of her family home in the regional Victorian town of Mildura.
Mr Torney denied murdering Nikki and was later found not guilty by a Supreme Court jury in 2016.
Mr Torney claimed it was his then partner, Peta-Ann Francis, who killed her daughter. He admitted he helped hide her body.
Ms Francis did not face any charges over her daughter’s death.
Nikki died as a result of repeated blows to her abdomen and chest. Her liver was split in several places and she lost between one-quarter and one-third of her total blood volume.
Mr Torney is expected to face Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday in relation to Ms Bates’ case.
In a statement on Wednesday, police said detectives from Cobram CIU are investigating the matter and are continuing to work to establish the exact circumstances in relation to Ms Bate’s death.
The 49-year-old has been remembered by loved ones as a “warm and loving” person who had the “biggest heart”.
“She was always helping someone, whether that was dropping in food for an elderly neighbour or giving lifts to people when needed,” Ms Bates’ sister, Rachel, told the Herald Sun.
Rachel said her sister, who was the fourth of seven children, was known for being a “crazy cat lady”, having rescued many kittens. Her home decor was also cat inspired.
“Emma wasn’t blessed with children but was a proud aunty to her 17 nieces and nephews. They were her pride and joy and she would spend hours talking about them to everyone.”
“It’s tragic that her big heart has led her to a friendship with a man who (has been charged with harming her) … No one deserves that.”
She said Ms Bates had long battled health issues, including Type 1 diabetes, and used a mobility scooter to travel around.
It comes days after 28-year-old mother Molly Ticehurst was found dead in her NSW home, becoming the 25th woman to be allegedly killed in Australia this year, according to data from Counting Dead Women.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said: “In the broader context, over the course of this year we have seen too many women already in 2024 lose their lives.”
“We know as a government we need to do more … governments around the country need to do more.
“We need to look at our programs, we need to look at our systems, we need to look at our legal systems about how we can strengthen the supports for women and that’s why I have asked the attorney-general, the minister for women, the minister for the prevention of family violence, to come back to cabinet with what more we can do to build on the substantial work that we have already done here in Victoria.”
Read related topics:Melbourne