Tweed unit block shattered by screams of woman stabbed to death

Neighbours have told of the terrifying final moments of a woman stabbed to death at Tweed Heads, saying they heard her cry out: “Think of the boys.’’

The townhouse block was sealed off as a crime scene yesterday. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

NEIGHBOURS have told of the terrifying final moments of a woman stabbed to death at Tweed Heads, saying they heard her cry out: “Think of the boys.’’

The peace at the usually quiet unit block in Brett St, close to the Tweed Hospital, was shattered by screams about 6.30pm NSW time on Monday.

Then there was silence.

But police and ambulance had been called and within a very short time police roared into the street and according to neighbours, kicked in the door to the unit.

Police at the scene of an alleged murder at Tweed Heads. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

They were confronted by a chilling scene, described by the Tweed-Byron police chief yesterday as “horrible’’.

Then nurses and security guards from the hospital sprinted down the road. The nurses began CPR in a desperate bid to revive Marie van Beers as she lay unconscious and dying, with critical stab wounds.

Paramedics joined the nurses in attempting to save the 63-year-old woman.

Marie Van Beers. Picture: supplied

But the former aged care worker, mother of two sons and grandmother of two girls, died at the scene.

Her partner, 64-year-old Paul Thomas Ryan, was allegedly found in the unit.

Tweed Byron Police District Superintendent Wayne Starling said the man was arrested after a brief struggle and taken to Tweed Heads police station.

Mr Ryan was due to appear in the Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday on a murder charge but the matter was adjourned. Police said he was in hospital. It was not known why.

Crime tape surrounds the property where the alleged murder happened at Tweed Heads. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

Neighbour Billy Briggenshaw said the couple had kept to themselves.

“They’ve been here years, I never really spoke to them but you would always see him sitting out the front drinking,” he said.

Kerryn Frederickson, who lives in a nearby apartment block, said she was having dinner with her family when the peace was shattered.

“Because the hospital is just nearby we thought it was someone going mental, you get that all the time,” she said.

Police outside the property. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

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“We came out and all we could hear was screaming, really loud, then silence. The cops actually came tearing down the road.

“We saw the cops kick the door in.

“It’s just sad.’’

Police investigations continued yesterday.

Officers said they were aware of the couple prior to the Monday night drama.

“The scene was horrible for the police that attended, it’s a sad situation and my role is to care for the police that attended,” Supt Starling said.

“Police still have a large number of people to interview. We have forensic experts out at the scene and we’ve got to look at every possible scenario in the interest of the victim who lost her life.”