Atherton man, 72, charged with murder after 65-year-old woman found dead

A 72-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his wife after allegedly fleeing the scene of the suspicious death of a 65-year-old woman in Atherton yesterday morning.

A 72-year-old Atherton man accused of murdering his wife has been located over 200km away after police responded to a traffic accident on Sunday evening.

He has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly fleeing the scene of the alleged murder of his wife.

The man is accused of the stabbing of his 65-year-old wife in Atherton on Sunday.

He was located by Cooktown Police over 200km north from the scene of the alleged murder after being involved in a traffic accident on the Byerstown Range.

At about 8.30am on Sunday, emergency services were called to an Atherton address after the woman’s body was found by her son.

She was declared dead at the scene.

Detective Acting Inspector Jason Chetham confirmed on Monday that the woman was found with apparent stab wounds to her abdomen.

“We have then made efforts to locate the deceased’s husband and his vehicle which were absent from the scene,” Mr Chetham said.

“Around 2.30pm Sunday afternoon we located that gentleman on the Byerstown Range, where there had been a traffic accident.

“The man was found on the roadway by Cooktown police with minor injuries and he was then transported back to Mareeba.”

It is believed the incident took place on Sunday morning shortly before 7am and there were no reports of any noise or fighting at the home at the time.

The alleged murder is being treated as a domestic violence offence.

A crime scene was set up and detectives are continuing investigations into the circumstances leading up to her death.

The man will appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Originally published as Atherton man, 72, charged with murder after 65-year-old woman found dead