NSW Police charge man with murder after woman found dead during welfare check at Tweed Heads West home
A man charged with murder after a woman was found dead during a welfare check at a Tweed home is claimed by neighbours to be a tenant in the deceased’s house. Here’s what we know.
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A man charged with murder after a woman was found dead during a police welfare check at a Tweed home is claimed by neighbours to be a tenant in the deceased’s house.
Officers emerged “white as ghosts” after they found Donna Baraket’s body in the home on Lakes Dr at Tweed Heads West, according to one neighbour.
Emergency services were called to the property about 5.50pm on Wednesday, after a concern for welfare report was made.
Police went to the home to carry out a check, but found Ms Baraket, who police say is aged in her 60s, dead inside.
Police allege they found Connor Bulluss, 25, with injuries to his hands at a business on Kennedy Dr – about 10 minutes from the home.
Ms Baraket is listed as an owner at the address and neighbours claimed Bulluss was a tenant.
Bulluss was found by staff at the West Tweed Chempro “sitting in the gutter with blood all over his hands”.
A female staffer and pharmacist Luke Wale went outside to talk to Bulluss, and said he had gone to a nearby phone box to call an ambulance.
Mr Wale said he lived across the road from Bulluss on Lakes Dr – and he was a “quiet bloke who was renting from Donna (Baraket)”.
“I see him around all the time. He buys lots of fresh produce is really quiet and is very friendly,” Mr Wale said.
He claimed: “Next thing he’s come in last night (Wednesday) bleeding.”
“We called the ambulance to check that he had in fact rang them and next minute they were here.”
Bulluss was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital under police guard for treatment. Upon discharge, he was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and charged with murder.
Bulluss was refused bail to face Tweed Heads Local Court.
In the court on Thursday, duty lawyer Carl Edwards told Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy that Bulluss was still under general anaesthetic in hospital, and having surgery on his hands.
Mr Edwards told the court he called the hospital for the update not long before the scheduled court appearance.
No bail application was made and the case is set to resume Friday.
Police and a coroner were seen wheeling Ms Baraket out of the home in a body bag about 10.30am on Thursday.
Officers were seizing evidence and combing the property, with forensic photographers and plain clothes detectives on scene.
Lakes Dr resident Joey Willis said of his neighbour: “When she first moved in she had a clean yard, vegetable patch and a nice car.”
“But in recent years it’s become people coming and going at odd hours, mess, and lots of noise,” he said.
Mr Willis said police walked out of the house “white as ghosts” after finding the body.
Ms Baraket could not be revived by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the home.
Mr Willis said police tore into the street with sirens on for the welfare check, which he believed “means they must have known something”.
He said he was “rattled” by the incident in the “usually peaceful” cul-de-sac.
Mr Willis said he did not hear any commotion before police arrived.
Another man living on the street said the area was “usually really safe” and a woman
said she had lived in the area 13 years and never heard any disturbances.
Multiple police vehicles, including a forensics van, were stationed outside the home on Thursday morning. Police tape was strewn around the property.
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Originally published as NSW Police charge man with murder after woman found dead during welfare check at Tweed Heads West home
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