Man and woman arrested at Forster in relation to murder of man dropped at Taree hospital

A man has been charged with murder and a woman with concealing a crime after a man was allegedly dropped at a Mid-North Coast hospital with fatal injuries.

A block of units at Heath Ave in Tuncurry were cordoned off as police investigated on Monday, April 24.

A man and woman arrested at a Forster motor inn on Monday night have been charged in relation to the murder of a man who was allegedly dropped at a Taree hospital suffering from fatal injuries.

Matthew Ronald Bennis and Kaia Lynn Ridgeway appeared in Taree Local Court on Tuesday, May 2, where they were refused bail.

Police were called to Manning Base Hospital following reports a man had presented with life-threatening wounds about 7.45am on Sunday, April 23.

The 38-year-old could not be revived and died soon after.

NSW Police said initial inquiries suggest the Taree man was injured at an address on Heath Ave in Tuncurry, before he was driven to hospital by a family member.

Strike Force Iteration was established to investigate the man’s death, including officers attached to Manning Great Lakes Police District and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.

Police were focussing their attention on a block of flats on Heath Ave, Tuncurry in the early days of the investigation. Picture: Janine Watson

Taree emergency department entrance on High Street.

Police stated on Tuesday that a 31-year-old man, Matthew Ronald Bennis, and a 25-year-old woman, Kaia Lynn Ridgeway, were arrested at a motor inn on The Lakes Way, Forster about 9.15pm on Monday and taken to Forster Police Station.

Bennis has been charged with murder, supplying a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited drug.

Ridgeway has been charged with concealing a serious indictable offence.

Bennis was refused bail with his matter adjourned to July 5.

Ridgeway was also refused bail and her matter adjourned to May 24.

Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.