Beaudesert death: Murder charge for man, 44, after woman’s horror tractor slasher death
Disturbing new details have emerged about the moments after a woman was allegedly murdered by her husband, as both the victim and accused are named.
Police & Courts
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The man charged over the murder of his 41-year-old wife south of Brisbane tried to cover up her death as being an accident, police will allege.
Emergency services were called to a property at Woodhill near Beaudesert just after 9am on Thursday, where they found a severely injured woman, who has since been identified as Amarjit Kaur Sardar, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is understood she had been run over by a cane slasher.
On Friday morning, Yadwinder Singh, 44, of Woodhill faced Beenleigh Magistrates Court charged with murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with corpse by interfering.
Singh was remanded in custody and police prosecution said forensics of the tractor and phone records will need to be analysed.
Detective Inspector Chris Knight said police will allege Singh murdered his wife before interfering with her corpse and claiming it was an accident.
He said Singh had called triple-0 to report the death of his wife and a recording of that phone call had been listened to by investigators.
“There were some observations that our investigators made on our initial triage with the scene that gave us concerns that there may have been some manipulation of the crime scene,” he said.
“Certainly his conversations are a part of our investigations.”
He said the scene was incredibly confronting for first responders.
Police will allege the couple had a history of domestic violence.
Superintendent Knight said their history will form a part of the investigation.
“So I don’t make any further comment in relation to that except to say that any history that may or may not exist will be subject to investigation.”
Police dive squad and SES crews were at the property again on Friday searching the vast area of land.
Divers will also search two dams on the property.
Superintends Knight said the crime scene was large and complex, which needed to be thoroughly searched.
It’s understood the couple had two teenage children.
They were not home at the time of their mother’s death.
Det Insp Knight said the triple-0 call recording had been listened to by investigators.
“We have recovered those recordings and our investigators have obviously reviewed them but essentially he reported that his wife had passed away and there was limited follow up questions that were fed to him by the (Queensland Ambulance Service) operators to assess her condition,” Det Insp Knight said.
He said the small farm was owned by a married couple who lived there with their two teenage children.
“Our thoughts, I don’t say this lightly, our thoughts go out to them at the moment and we are providing as much support as we can and we are greatly assisted by the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group in supporting the surviving family of the deceased lady,” he said.
He said interstate relatives had travelled to Queensland to be there for the children.
Det Insp Knight said a tractor slasher had been seized, as well as a sedan. He said the forensic examination of the property would continue for some days and would include searches by police divers of dams, as well as a ground search by State Emergency Services volunteers.
The property is believed to be a sugar cane farm.
A forensic pathologist arrived at the scene about 4:20pm on Thursday, and several police officers were seen closely guarding the scene including where a tractor and a car were roped off.
Singh was represented in court on Friday by defence lawyer Corey Cook and the matter was adjourned to June 5 in Beenleigh Magistrates Court for a committal mention.
“The pathology report is at least three months away and there is going to be a lengthy delay in relation to the forensics and mechanical of the tractor involved,” police prosecutor Sergeant Karine Evans told the court on Friday morning.
“There were also quite a number of recordings on the defendant’s and victim’s phone which will require translation.
“I’ve spoken to the arresting officer and will need at least three months for a brief of evidence.”
A full brief of evidence will be ordered by May 17.