Zachary Mills charged with murdering mother Christine Mills

A man has faced court charged with murdering his mother at a Mid-North Coast holiday park. Police will allege he was subject to orders for her protection when the tragedy unfolded.

Zachary Mills, 30, has been charged with murdering his mother Christine Mills after an alleged incident at a holiday park in Coffs Harbour on October 2, 2024.

A man has been charged with murdering his mother at a NSW Mid-North Coast holiday park while he was allegedly subject to domestic violence orders for her protection.

Zachary Mills, 30, has been charged with murdering his mother Christine after a days-long search by police resulted in his arrest in Queensland.

Police will allege Mills was subject to an interim apprehended domestic violence order for his mother’s protection when he allegedly killed her last week.

In a statement, police said emergency services attended the Big 4 Park Beach Holiday Park in Coffs Harbour about 5.25pm on October 2 in response to a concern for welfare.

Officers found Christine Mills, 58, with facial injuries. She was rushed to Coffs Harbour Base Hospital for treatment before dying of her injuries five days later.

Ocean Parade is a busy beachside boulevard full of medium and high density housing and runs adjacent to Park Beach. Picture: Toni Moon.

Documents tendered to Tweed Heads Local Court on Tuesday indicate Mills allegedly murdered his mother between 5pm and 5.30pm on October 2.

He is further charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Ms Mills, and with twice breaching an apprehended domestic violence order on September 30 and October 2 in Coffs Harbour.

Christine Mills. Picture: Facebook

Court documents indicate police issued a warrant for Mills’ arrest following the first alleged breach of the apprehended domestic violence order on September 30, before he allegedly murdered Ms Mills two days later.

He briefly appeared in Tweed Heads Local Court on Tuesday, where he did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

He will remain in custody on remand ahead of his next appearance at Coffs Harbour Local Court on December 10.

After court, Mills’ solicitor Marc Savic described it as a “tragic incident”.

On the day of the incident, police were told a 30-year-old man, who had been at the property, had left before officers arrived.

Officers established a crime scene, and set up Strike Force Armilla to investigate the circumstances.

After extensive inquiries, Mills was arrested at Park Ridge in Brisbane’s south by Queensland police on Sunday night in relation to his outstanding NSW warrants.

NSW Police successfully secured his extradition back to NSW at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, before officers were notified Ms Mills had died in hospital.

Mills was taken to Tweed Heads police station and charged with domestic violence murder.

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