Katoomba: Heinz Ratke faces murder charge
An elderly man has been remanded in custody after a woman’s body was found in a Blue Mountains home.
The Blue Mountains News
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An elderly man has been remanded in custody on a murder charge after police found a distressing scene in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday.
Heinz Ratke, 73, of Katoomba, did not appear during the first mention of his matter at Penrith Local Court before Magistrate Brian van Zuylen on Thursday.
Magistrate van Zuylen adjourned the matter to February 19 to give the prosecution time to prepare a brief of evidence.
Police were called to a home on Station St, Katoomba, at about 9am on Tuesday for a welfare check after a report from a concerned person.
When they arrived, they allegedly found Ratke unresponsive. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics.
The body of 71-year-old woman, who police allege was known to Ratke, was found in a bedroom.
Police will allege Ratke killed the woman.
Ratke was taken to Katoomba Hospital under police guard, and was arrested and charged after his discharge on Wednesday.
He will next appear in Penrith Local Court on February 19.
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