Homicide Squad detectives are investigating what is believed to be the murder of another Australian woman, bringing the sad toll of women murdered in the country to 71.
The latest suspected victim of male violence was found dead in South Morang, just northeast of Melbourne, on Monday morning.
Police arrested South Morang, 33, at the scene, who is in the process of being interviewed by detectives.
Emergency services were called to a residential property on Reid Street at around 10am.
The woman, who has not yet been formally identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A police spokesperson said the exact circumstances surrounding his death have not yet been determined and investigations are continuing.
It is understood that both parties know each other.
Police closed Reid Street in South Morang (pictured)
Another woman has been murdered in Melbourne
The incident sparked immediate fear in the community, particularly among parents of children at a Reid Street kindergarten.
“All the kids are good, they have no idea what’s going on we’re told,” one parent posted online.
Another local had been locked outside his own home as police converged on the scene.
‘I live on the street, they told me there was a big police operation going on and I can’t go home. “They told me it would be several hours,” he wrote.
Sherele Moody, who runs a website tracking the number of women murdered in Australia, lashed out at the sad addition to her ongoing map.
‘She is the 71st woman murdered this year. “I can’t believe I wrote about 71 Australian women murdered this year,” she posted online.
‘I can’t believe you’re reading about the 71st woman murdered this year. “I can believe the lack of action by the people in power.”
Another woman noted that the figure marked an even more disturbing statistic if the death was confirmed to be a murder.
’71! -That’s a woman approximately every four days!’ she wrote.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
More to come
