Territory business director charged with Sheena Fairfield’s murder

A Territory business director has been charged with murder after the death of Leanyer mother Sheena Fairfield. He will face court today. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT.

A Darwin gardener has been charged with the murder of Leanyer mother and business owner Sheena Fairfield.

Joerg Kloepper, the director of Joerg’s Gardening Service, was arrested last Friday and charged on Tuesday. He will face court on Wednesday.

Ms Fairfield was killed about 2.30pm on Thursday.

Her husband, Mick Fairfield, returned home from work at the couple’s business, Territory Butchers, about 5.20pm to find Ms Fairfield suffering horrific injuries.

Initially he thought she had fallen off the balcony or been attacked by dogs because of the severity of her injuries.

Sheena Fairfield was found by her husband Mick at their Leanyer after being allegedly murdered by a 56-year-old Rosebery man. Picture: Supplied

“It was just one big blur,” Mr Fairfield told the NT News just four days after his wife’s death.

“I just seen her there in a pool of blood.

“There was blood sprayed on the walls.”

The next morning, heavily-armed police officers swarmed Kloepper’s Rosebery property, negotiating with him before his arrest.

Neighbours told the NT News the negotiations lasted more than an hour.

Kloepper remained under police guard in Royal Darwin Hospital over the weekend with injuries believed to have been self-inflicted.

Mick Fairfield came home to find his wife Sheena dead after being allegedly murdered. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

On Monday, Mr Fairfield spoke of his heartbreak at losing his “best friend”.

“I treasured her,” he said.

“We couldn’t be separated.

“We really just stuck together.

“I loved her a lot.”

Ms Fairfield had left work just after 2pm to pick up he five-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, from school.

Police said they believed she was killed about 2.30pm.

Mr Fairfield desperately tried to revive his wife until emergency services arrived.

The Leanyer property where Sheena Fairfield was allegedly murdered on Thursday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“I knew she was dead,” Mr Fairfield said.

“I knew she was gone because there was so much blood.

“She was covered in flies.

“Her eyes were open and she was looking at the gate. I think she tried to get to the gate.”

Mr Fairfield found their daughter in a room upstairs under a blanket and covered in sweat with a terrified look on her face.

“She’d been under there for hours,” Mr Fairfield said on Monday with tears rolling down his face.

Mick Fairfield found his five-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, under a blanket at their Leanyer home after Sheena Fairfield was allegedly murdered. Picture: Supplied

“She had a look of relief when she seen me.

“I don’t know how she’s going to be.

“It destroyed her.”

A memorial for Ms Fairfield will be held later this month.

Kloepper has been remanded in custody to face Darwin Local Court on Wednesday.

Originally published as Territory business director charged with Sheena Fairfield’s murder