Sydney man charged with domestic violence amid investigation into Randwick death

In the months after Sydney woman Claire Austin died following an argument with her boyfriend, another woman came forward to police, accusing the same man of serious domestic violence offences.

Lee Loughlin, 44, became a key figure in a police investigation surrounding the death of his girlfriend, Sydney woman Claire Austin.

In the months after Sydney woman Claire Austin died after running through a glass door as she argued with her boyfriend, another woman came forward to police, accusing the same man of serious domestic violence offences.

Lee Loughlin, 44, became a key figure in a police investigation surrounding the death of his girlfriend Claire Austin, 38, in April, after a horror incident at their Randwick apartment.

Ms Austin was found with a partially severed arm, along with other horrific injuries, at their unit, after she allegedly ran through an internal glass door as they argued.

Ms Austin was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital where she spent three days on life support. She tragically died due to the severity of her injuries.

Recruitment exec Lee Loughlin, 44, whose girlfriend Claire Austin, 38, died at their Randwick unit on Saturday morning. Mr Loughlin has been spoken to by police over her death but released pending further investigation.,

Claire Austin. Picture: Facebook

While Strike Force Lyndoch was established to investigate Ms Austin’s death – which was labelled as suspicious by NSW Police – charges have not been laid in the months since.

“The investigation is ongoing,” a NSW Police spokesman said this week.

Mr Loughlin, a recruitment company boss, was taken to Maroubra police station following Ms Austin’s death to “assist with inquiries” before detectives admitted him to a mental health facility.

He was released days later and no charges were laid.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal, however, that Mr Loughlin has been charged with domestic violence offences over an unrelated incident involving another woman in November 2023.

The woman is understood to have come forward to NSW Police with her complaint about Mr Loughlin after news of Ms Austin’s death made headlines.

Police in Randwick following Ms Austin’s death in April. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Loughlin was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on June 16 and is set to face court for the first time next week.

He was granted bail after he was charged last month and is understood to be living in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

A friend of Ms Austin’s said they were “devastated” in the wake of her death and felt the investigation into her death had stalled.

“Claire was an incredible person, warm and kind,” they said.

“Her death rocked us … there is no closure. We don’t know what is going on.”

At the time of Ms Austin’s death, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said it would be thoroughly ­investigated.

“This is a tragic loss of life and we are determined to work out exactly what happened,” he said.

Ms Austin was originally from the UK and had been living in Sydney in the 10 years prior to her passing.

It’s understood her parents rushed to Australia following the tragedy, and spent several weeks here as investigations continued.