Elderly man charged with attempted murder after alleged strangulation

The words uttered by an 86-year-old man before he allegedly tried to strangle his daughter-in-law to death with a piece of wire has been revealed.

A man has been charged with attempted murder. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Neighbours of a woman whose husband’s 86-year-old grandfather attempted to strangle her with a wire say they heard her screaming her “last bits of breath”.

Police allege Allan Robson, 86, tried to strangle his 33-year-old relative at an address in the Ipswich suburb of Eastern Heights about 6.30pm on Monday.

The woman who survived, sustained no injuries. But neighbours say the commotion woke them up.

It was neighbours who reported the incident after hearing the screams.

The neighbour who asked not to be named said she heard the woman scream “get off me”.

“I was actually asleep, so it was that loud that it woke me up, and we ran inside,” she said.

“He was on top of her, and she was using the last breath that she had to scream.”

“It was like she was getting her last bits of breath to scream.”

She said the police were very quick to the scene.

“The police ended up coming in like five minutes. There was three different cars that came and, they basically just arrested him.”

It is understood the woman had a flight booked overseas today and was getting ready to leave before the incident.

“She’s home now and ok. She had no injuries, she’s just really scared and shaken up,” she said.

“He snuck up behind her and said ‘sorry I have to do this’.

“If we didn’t come out, then she could have potentially lost her life.”

The neighbours said the woman had been out shopping before the incident occurred.

“It’s usually a quiet suburb. We don’t hear anything, and that’s why we ran out as soon as we did, and I’m glad we did,” she said.

“We didn’t sleep last night. It’s really scary. And close to home.”

Mr Robson man was charged with attempted murder (domestic violence offence) and appeared at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr Robson is in custody and did not attempt to apply for bail.

The matter was adjourned until August 6 and a full brief of evidence was ordered.

Originally published as Elderly man charged with attempted murder after alleged strangulation