Quakers Hill stabbing: Police charge man with wife’s murder
Police have charged a man with the stabbing murder of his wife, who was found lying in a pool of blood at their Quakers Hill home. The young woman had taken out an AVO three weeks ago.
Police & Courts
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A young woman stabbed to death in Sydney’s west, allegedly by her husband, had been granted an AVO against him just over three weeks ago.
International student Kamaljeet Sidhu, 27, was found by her brother in a pool of blood on Wednesday inside the Quakers Hill house where she lived with her husband of four years Beltej Lailna, 31.
Ms Sidha was granted an interim apprehended violence order against her husband at Quakers Hill Police Station on April 24 but he was allowed to remain living in the house they shared with friends, police said.
Police will allege Lailna, 31, was standing in the hallway with blood on his hands.
A 15cm kitchen knife believed to be the murder weapon was allegedly found next to Ms Sidhu’s body.
Lailna has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court today.
Police Superintendent Jennifer Scholz said the violence order taken out by Ms Sidhu was “standard” which allowed the pair to live together, but Mr Sidhu could not “assault or molest” his wife.
“That order was taken out and served on that individual,’’ Supt Scholz said.
“From our investigation, it will be alleged the husband has assaulted and murdered his wife.”
Supriya Mattal who lives in the flats near the woman said an Indian couple rented the property.
“I’ve never heard them fight before. They keep to themselves. This is a quiet area – I am so shocked,” she said.
The latest incident comes as MP Julie Collins, the federal shadow minister for women, yesterday said she would push for the Upper House to hold another inquiry into domestic violence after senators were condemned yesterday for cutting one inquiry short after hearing no witnesses, taking no submissions or calling public hearings.
The senate inquiry chaired by controversial Labor senator Kim Carr had been triggered by the horrific murders of Queensland mother Hannah Clarke and her three children by her estranged husband Rowan Baxter in February.
Forensic officers examined the home this morning looking for evidence which could provide answers to why the woman was fatally stabbed.
It is understood the woman’s younger brother had been staying with the couple over the past few months.
Neighbour Arun Sood said the woman’s brother came to his door with police at 8pm.
“He looked like he was going to cry. Very distressed. Police asked if the man could use the toilet. They said he was a good man,” Mr Sood said.
“He used the toilet and they left.”
Police have the power to ban a partner from the couple’s home under an apprehended violence order, even if the victim did not ask for that, executive officer of the Women’s Legal Service NSW Helen Campbell said yesterday.
She said that in normal circumstances police did a wonderful job protecting women.
“But I think it is a question of police taking more time to work out what they really need to do upfront on an interim basis and taking it to a court quickly if it looks like the situation is escalating,” Ms Campbell said.
Lailna will appear via video before Parramatta Court on Friday charged with murder.