‘Critical incident’ declared in NSW town of Casino, woman found dead

A man has faced court for the first time after he was charged with murdering his partner in a domestic violence incident.

A man has appeared in court for the first time since he was charged with murdering his partner in their home, as police launch a critical incident report into their delayed response.

NSW Police attended an address in Casino, in the NSW Northern Rivers region, at 2.27am on Saturday for a welfare check and found an unconscious woman in her 40s with head injuries.

Officers called for an ambulance, but her condition deteriorated and she died at the scene.

Police charged the woman’s partner Dwanye John Creighton with her murder on Saturday evening.

The 31-year-old fronted Lismore Local Court via audiovisual link on Sunday morning.

Police examine the crime scene in Casino, NSW. Picture: Newswire/Natalie Grono

He did not apply for bail, and he will remain behind bars on remand until he returns to court on Monday.

On Saturday, police revealed a “critical incident” investigation would be launched into the nearly one-hour delay in police response to a triple-0 call related to the woman’s death.

NSW Police Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said a triple-0 call was made to the police shortly after 1.30am, but the police only acknowledged the call at 2.25am.

“That has given me enough concern to ask for an independent review … what was that delay and whether it was justified or otherwise,” he said on Saturday afternoon.

“What (police) were doing prior to that and what other jobs there were will form part of that investigation.”

A critical incident review tasks external investigators with assessing how officers responded to an incident, and whether there were any failures in the response.

Police officers attended the address at 2.27am Saturday morning. Picture: Newswire/Natalie Grono

A team from the Byron Police District will examine the response and the Professional Standards Command will oversee the investigation.

The investigation will be subject to an independent review, the police said.

The priority level given to the call will form part of the investigation, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said.

The officers who attended the address were in a nearby area when they responded to the call at 2.25am, the assistant commissioner added.

It is not clear where or from whom the triple-0 call was made.

The police do not believe there was anyone else in the house at the time.

A ‘critical incident’ was declared on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Newswire/Natalie Grono

A crime scene has been established. The state homicide squad is investigating with Richmond officers.

It is the second alleged domestic violence murder in NSW in just two days after a woman was allegedly murdered by her housemate in Sydney’s inner-west.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said the police did not tolerate domestic violence “in any way, shape, or form”.

“We take domestic violence extremely seriously,” he said.

Originally published as ‘Critical incident’ declared in NSW town of Casino, woman found dead