Man charged with murder after death of Louise Hughes, 51, at Park Holme house

A man has been charged with murder over the death of a 51-year-old woman at a house in a “peaceful” Park Holme street on Tuesday morning.

The woman killed in a suspected murder at a Park Holme house has been identified as 51-year-old Louise Hughes.

Lee Streng, 33, is accused of murdering mother of two, Louise Hughes, who was found collapsed and unresponsive in a house on Condada Ave, just before 5am on Tuesday.

Ms Hughes, of Glengowrie, was found collapsed and unresponsive in the Condada Ave home just before 5am Tuesday by people at the home, police said. Despite attempts at the scene to revive her, she died.

Park Holme murder victim Louise Hughes in a picture supplied by her family.

Park Holme murder victim Louise Hughes. Picture: SAPOL

The cause of death remains unknown.

It is understood Ms Hughes was married with two daughters and one grandchild.

One neighbour said she was friendly and would wave, but added that the family kept to themselves.

It is believed she also worked at a real estate agency in Victor Harbor for a period of time.

Detective chief inspector Michael Fisher said people residing at the home called paramedics who alerted police to the death.

“It’s an unusual situation, people don’t normally just pass away without any outside influence of some description, it’s not clear at this stage how this person passed on that’s why we’re investigating,” he said.

The 33-year-old man that lived at the house has been handcuffed and led away by police. Picture: Mark Brake

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Fisher speaks to media. Picture: Mark Brake

Police doorknock neighbours during the investigation of a suspicious death on Condada Ave Park Holme. Picture: Mark Brake

“I can’t say much more – it’s very early in the investigation and when matters become clearer we may be able to tell you a bit more,” Mr Fisher said.

He said Ms Hughes and the charged man were acquaintances, but not related, and she was not known to police.

“Major Crime’s involvement with forensics is to determine what we’ve got at the scene, there will be a post-mortem conducted on the deceased female to ascertain her cause of death,” Mr Fisher said.

“Anyone with information regarding this incident early this morning I encourage them to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Neighbours were in shock over the death on Tuesday morning, including one man who was on his way to the Royal Adelaide Show with his young family.

“I actually didn’t hear anything,” Colin Liu said.

“It’s absolutely shocking … we have to find out what’s going on,” he said.

Neighbour Jin Liu woke to police cars this morning and spoke to an officer who told him a woman had died.

“I feel really weird because this street is really peaceful,” Mr Liu said.

“I’m feeling pretty normal … but I’m a little nervous for other people and the babies,” he said of his children.

Detectives at the scene. Picture: Mark Brake

Police and detectives at the house on Condada Ave Park Holme. Picture: Mark Brake

A man who lives nearby but did not wish to be named said the man living at the home where the body was found was “an interesting character”.

Michelle Swincer also lives nearby and said she looked outside her window this morning and saw police cars and plain-clothed detectives.

“It’s very concerning, in my quiet little street nothing seems to ever happen,” Ms Swincer said.

“It’s very sad, I know things happen but it’s pretty confronting when it happens in your street.”

Detectives and the forensic investigations team were at the scene from the early hours of Tuesday morning bagging evidence and doorknocking neighbours.

Omar Ztati, 21, lives a few doors down from the property where the woman was found dead.

He said he woke to a large police presence in Condada Ave.

“There were just police cars and detectives walking the street,” he said

“They just asked if we heard anything in the morning, which we didn’t.”

He said he was aware of the man who was arrested.

“I work night shift and I’ve often seen him strolling up and down the street in the early hours of the morning,” he said.

“I honestly didn’t even know where he lived, I’ve only ever seen him walking up and down the street.”

David Amato said when he saw police arrive he knew what house it would involve.

“You didn’t see a lot of people going in and out of that house except for him (the arrested man),” he said.

“It’s never good to hear that someone may have been murdered; you’d never wish that on anybody.”

It comes after a man was murdered on a rural property on the Eyre Peninsula on the weekend.

John Edward Tilly Griffin, 28, appeared briefly in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from the Port Lincoln police cells on Monday, accused of killing Gary Robinson, 66.

It is alleged he killed Mr Robinson – who was living in a caravan – between August 31 and September 4 at a 1300 acre property on North Coast Rd on the outskirts of the coastal community of Port Neill.