Friends say mum-of-four Teresa Bradford, 40, was terrified of husband David, 52, after he was bailed on domestic violence charges

A MOTHER-of-four was stabbed to death by her estranged husband two weeks after he was released on bail on domestic violence charges.

Teresa Bradford, 40, was stabbed to death in her home by her estranged husband David.

FRIENDS of a Gold Coast mother-of-four stabbed to death by her estranged husband say she was living in terror after he was bailed just two weeks before the killing.

David Bradford, 52, was released on bail by a specialist domestic violence magistrate, despite his estranged wife telling police he knocked her unconscious in a violent attack on November 28 last year.

Two weeks after the magistrate released the former train driver, despite the strong objections of police, he broke into his wife Teresa’s home and stabbed her to death before taking his own life.

The couple’s four children were home at the time and fled to neighbours for help.

Domestic violence workers say 40-year-old Teresa was let down by a system that should have protected her.

Friends of Mrs Bradford told the Gold Coast Bulletin she was “terrified” when her husband was released.

“She was scared something like this would happen, especially after he attacked her last year,” friend Debra Napper told the paper.

“Her and Dave were together a long time, they had four kids together and moved here from Sydney.

“We were all trying to help her move, I’m angry that there wasn’t enough help for her and the court orders meant nothing.”

Teresa Bradford was found dead in her home.

Dave Bradford took his own life, after taking that of his estranged wife Teresa.

The Courier-Mail exclusively revealed on Tuesday that Bradford was released on bail by the Gold Coast’s specialist domestic violence court on January 12.

According to the report, he had been in custody after being charged with violent offences against his estranged wife on November 28 last year.

In that incident, according to the report, he knocked her unconscious, dragged her across the room by her hair and gaffer taped her mouth shut.

He had been in custody until his bail application, where police opposed his release due to his “fragile mental state”.

He was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, unlawful strangling, deprivation of liberty, and ­domestic violence-related common assault.

DV Connect chief executive officer Diane Mangan told the ABC Mrs Bradford was in “grave danger of being murdered”.

She said strangulation has almost always occurred previously in cases of domestic homicide.

“This was definitely a woman who was in grave danger of being murdered. She knew it herself,” Ms Mangan told the broadcaster.

Mrs Bradford is the fifth Gold Coast woman to be murdered by her partner in just 16 months.

Among the bail conditions her husband was released on were that he stay at least 100 metres from his estranged wife, except at scheduled court appearances.

A police officer brings flowers given by a member of the public to lay at the murder scene. Picture: Tim Marsden

A forensic officer at the scene of Mr and Mrs Bradford’s deaths. Picture: Tim Marsden

Several residents of the quiet suburban street on the northern end of the Gold Coast were unaware anything had happened until they woke to see police and reporters on the street on Tuesday.

“We didn’t hear anything or see anything,” a neighbour said.

“(It’s) a little bit scary ... it’s very quiet. There’s nothing really ever happening, there’s no commotions, so this is a pretty crazy thing to have happened.”