- John Torney, 39, charged with death of Emma Bates
A man with the word “hate” tattooed on his knuckles has been charged with a string of assault offenses after a woman was found dead at her home in rural Victoria.
Emma Bates, 49, was found dead inside her home in Cobram, near the New South Wales border in Victoria’s far north, about 2.15pm on Tuesday, after suffering injuries to her upper body and face.
She is the 26th woman murdered in Australia this year as the nation battles an epidemic of violence against women.
Police revealed on Wednesday night that they have charged tattooed John Torney with a string of offenses over Ms Bates’ death.
“A 39-year-old Cobram man has been charged with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, actual assault, aggravated assault on a female and unlawful assault,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
It is understood Torney and Bates had recently entered into a relationship.
He is expected to face an out-of-sessions court hearing on Thursday night, where police will attempt to remand him before he appears at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
More to come.