Three dead in four days of domestic violence

A MOTHER-of-five was allegedly stabbed to death by her estranged boyfriend only days after he moved out of their western Sydney home. Russell Brian Wood today failed to apply for bail.

A mother-of-five has been stabbed to death, allegedly by her estranged boyfriend. Picture: Steve Tyson

A mother-of-five has been stabbed to death, allegedly by her estranged boyfriend, only days after he moved out of their western Sydney home.

Family of alleged victim Sarah Brown say the 34-year-old had taken out an apprehended violence order against Russell Brian Wood earlier this year.

Despite the AVO, police will allege Wood turned up at Ms Brown’s Whalan home and stabbed her in the torso in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Sarah Brown was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend in Sydney's north west yesterday morning.

Police arrived minutes later and found Wood walking out of the four-bedroom house.

The 26-year-old was handcuffed on the front lawn as shocked neighbours frantically called Ms Brown’s daughter.

Wood did not appear via audio visual link when his case was mentioned at Parramatta Bail Court this morning. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

Ms Brown’s niece, Sharnee Portors, said fortunately Ms Brown’s children weren’t home at the time.

Family of the victim say the 34-year-old had taken out an AVO against Russell Wood earlier this year.

“She came down from the Central Coast yesterday to drop the kids off at their dad’s,” she said at the crime scene today.

Ms Portors said her Aunty had been looking to move up to the Central Coast to get away from Wood.

She described him as a substance abuser who had been in a tumultuous and on-again-off-again relationship with Ms Brown for about two years.

Emergency services were called to Whalan about 2am following reports a woman had been found inside a home with a stab wound. Picture: Steve Tyson

Officers attached to Mount Druitt Local Area Command established a crime scene and commenced an investigation. Picture: Steve Tyson

“When I first met him he was really nice until a week later he was using,” she said.

“A couple of months in and she was really happy. He was really happy with all the kids but then he started changing.”

Blair Dalton was strangled to death, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend at Ettalong Beach on Tuesday.

Ms Brown’s sister said Ms Brown first met Wood at a local pub. Over the years her willingness to take him back despite his behaviour which had fractured their relationship.

“When she was with him she was so quiet and different,” she said.

Ms Brown was the third person in four days to be killed in NSW as a result of domestic violence.

Lance Pearce strangled his girlfriend Blair Dalton at her Ettalong Beach home on Tuesday.

He was due to be charged with murder but died in custody.

Steve Bojnovic is accused of fatally attacking his elderly father with a hammer in Liverpool on Friday.

The 39-year-old briefly appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, charged with murdering his 87-year-old father.

Ms Brown’s family are reeling from their loved one’s alleged murder and have spent most of Saturday morning at the crime scene.

Her daughters and sisters turned up to Moresby Crescent about 3am on Saturday only to be told Ms Brown had died.

Wood is currently in custody at Mt Druitt Police Station where he has been charged with the stabbing murder his former partner.

The 26-year-old was refused bail and is expected to face Parramatta Local Court on Sunday charged with murder and contravention of a family violence order.

National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT.

In an emergency call triple-zero.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.