Everything we know so far about the death in Medina St in Taperoo

A man was found dead in his Taperoo home on Sunday and his wife has been charged with his murder. Here’s everything we know so far.

A man was found dead in his Taperoo home on Sunday and a woman has been charged with his murder.

Here’s everything we know about it so far.

What happened in court?

After her first court appearance in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court the day after the alleged incident, Caroll Hopkinson, 58, on Tuesday asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to release her from custody.

She has been charged with murdering her husband Simon, 60, after allegedly calling emergency services to the pair’s Taperoo home herself.

Jeff Powell, for Ms Hopkinson, on Tuesday afternoon told the court his client had woken up to a strange noise coming from the bathroom on the morning of the incident.

“Ms Hopkinson woke to sounds in her house and when she investigated, she found her husband attempting suicide,” Mr Powell said.

He said Ms Hopkinson panicked and rushed to retrieve a knife to help her husband, but Mr Hopkinson then turned on her.

“She understood his reaction to be ‘why are you stopping me from something that I need to do’, that is how she interpreted his reaction,” he said.

“His reaction was aggressive, and a conflict occurred between them. He took the knife from her and assaulted her. She had cuts on her hands from trying to defend herself. There was a struggle, and then she took the knife back.

“In a desperate moment, when he lunged at her again, he was stabbed. She was in fear, she says, for her life.

“It’s a tragic circumstance and Ms Hopkinson is in the unfortunate position of having ended the life of her own husband in an act of defence.”

Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal ordered a home detention report, and will make a decision on bail next month.

What happened on Medina St?

Emergency services were called to Medina St in Taperoo at about 8.40am Sunday.

Western Districts Detective Inspector Christie Matthews said first responders arrived to discover 60-year-old Mr Hopkinson dead.

His wife, Caroll Hopkinson, 58, was arrested later on Sunday and was charged with murder.

Police say she was the one who called emergency services.

No other people are being

sought over the incident, but police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Police are yet to confirm the cause of death but have not ruled out the use of weapons.

When asked if the incident could be domestic violence-related, she would only say it was still under investigation.

A neighbour said she and her son were outside on Sunday morning when they saw Caroll being escorted out of the home by police.

“She was in handcuffs and her hands were wrapped in bags,” she said.

“I was sitting out the front and she came out in her nightie. She looked pretty nonchalant, not very bothered. She had her head down.”

Simon and Caroll were described as a “lovely couple” by neighbours.

Who was Simon Hopkinson?

Simon ‘Hoppo’ Hopkinson, 60, died on Sunday.

A neighbour described Mr Hopkinson as “nice”. He had lived in the Taperoo house for about 10 years with his wife.

It is believed the couple owned three dogs and would often be seen walking their pets in the area.

Simon Hopkinson.

Wife Caroll Hopkinson has been charged with his murder.

Who has been charged?

Simon’s wife Caroll Hopkinson, 58, was charged murder on Sunday afternoon.

Her social media profiles describe her as a mum and granny.

It is believed she worked as a mental health nurse.

Detectives arrest Caroll Hopkinson at Medina St, Taperoo, after Simon’s body was found at the address. Picture: 9NEWS Adelaide

How the neighbourhood reacted

A neighbour, Kyla Vermeulen, who has lived on the street for 14 years, said it was “mostly older people and families” in the area.

She said she had heard a “bang that was like a rattle on a fence” the night before.

“I’m pretty shocked ... It’s quite sad,” she said of hearing a neighbour had died.

“I’ve been here 14 years and it’s been like a peaceful street.”

“It’s usually pretty quiet here,” she said.

Police at the scene of the alleged murder at Taperoo on Sunday, July 7. Picture Mark Brake

Another neighbour said who asked to remain anonymous, said she did not know the couple very well but her son had helped Mr Hopkinson move firewood for some extra pocket money.

“They seem lovely, I didn’t speak to them much but my son knew them better,” she said.

“They’ve got a whole heap of firewood, and (my son) took a wheelbarrow over and helped them out. Simon gave him $20 so they seemed really nice.

“They were both psychiatric nurses. They’ve got three dogs and a cat. I’m very shocked.

“I never actually saw them together but they seemed fine.”

What happens next?

Caroll was refused bail and will appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

Originally published as Everything we know so far about the death in Medina St in Taperoo