Man charged with murder after woman attacked at home in Bronte

Neighbours expressed their grief and shock after a woman died and a man was charged with murder following an alleged assault at an eastern suburbs home.

Paramedics rushed the woman to hospital. Picture: OnScene

Neighbours in the normally quiet, leafy suburb of Sydney’s affluent Bronte have spoken of their shock after a man was charged with murder following a fatal attack on a woman in alleged domestic violence-related incident.

About 6pm on Thursday, police were called out to a home on Bronte Rd for a welfare concern when they discovered a 74-year-old woman inside suffering critical injuries.

They gave her first aid until paramedics arrived and took over before rushing the woman to St Vincent’s Hospital, where she later died.

Police arrested a 74-year-old man at the scene, who they said is known to the woman, and took him to Waverley Police Station, where he was later charged with one count of murder.

A man was arrested at the scene on Thursday. Picture: OnScene

Authorities remained at the scene on Friday. Picture: Monique Harmer

Residents on the same street described the news as the loss of a “kind” woman.

“She was a really nice lady. She was often walking the dogs and she would always say hi to me and my family,” 18-year-old neighbour Jack Mcintosh said.

Police tape cordoned off the front of the property. Picture: Monique Harmer

“It’s really surprising, especially around here where we wouldn’t expect something like that, coming home to see eight to 10 police cars.

“They kept to themselves. I didn‘t see much of them, especially the man. From the outside, it looked like a normal family home.”

Police could not confirm the type of injuries the woman had sustained, however a gun or a knife were not believed to have been used in the alleged assault.

Paramedics worked to treat the woman on the street side. Picture: OnScene

Dramatic video footage taken at the scene on Thursday evening showed the man being led away by police with his hands behind his back.

Sporting grey hair and wearing glasses, the man had bloodstains on one of the arm sleeves of his T-shirt as he was escorted away.

Meanwhile, paramedics were seen swarming around the woman while trying to stabilise her on a footpath outside the home before she was taken to hospital.

A NSW Police spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday that detectives would look into what happened.

“A crime scene has been established after a woman was found critically injured in a home at Bronte this afternoon,” the spokeswoman said.

“Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to a home on Bronte Rd about 6pm on Thursday … responding to reports a woman had been assaulted.

A crime scene was set up on Thursday night.

A police van blocked the driveway of the Bronte home on Friday. Picture: Monique Harmer

“They arrived to find a woman critically injured and rendered first aid until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.

“A man was taken into custody at the home. It’s believed they are known to each other.

“A crime scene has now been established at the home with detectives from Eastern Suburbs also attending.”

Other photographs from the scene showed multiple ambulances and police cars lining Bronte Rd outside the home.

Witnesses said they also saw police rescue officers at the scene during the evening.

The house is located not far from Bronte Beach.