Two women dead after Cairns stabbing

UPDATE: A man accused of stabbing his wife and mother-in-law to death in Cairns yesterday has been charged with murder.

An unknown distraught woman arrives at the scene. Two women are dead and a man is in custody after an incident at Wiltshire Drive in Gordonvale. Picture: Marc McCormack

A MAN accused of stabbing his wife and mother-in-law to death in an alleged frenzied attack in Cairns yesterday has been charged with murder.

The 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene, on Wiltshire Drive, and was today charged with two counts of murder.

He is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court tomorrow.

EARLIER:

SHOCK turned to chilling disbelief for Gordonvale residents after a man suspected of going on a 15-minute killing rampage was arrested yesterday.

Two women are dead after the alleged attack, which prompted police to lock down Wiltshire Drive.

Residents lined their driveways and front yards in disbelief as police handcuffed the man and cordoned off a crime scene which included a home, its front yard and the street.

Resident Reece Coutts, whose girlfriend took video of the arrest, said he saw a knife and pool of blood on a driveway opposite his Wiltshire St address.

“I was driving home and my girlfriend called explaining what was happening and asking me to hurry up as she was incredibly frightened,” he said.

“I got home and the street was completely packed with about 10 cop cars and a guy with blood all over his hands — it wasn’t pretty at all.”

Mr Coutts said he was shocked and frightened.

“I’ve seen the people from the house walking past in the morning and they always said hello … now they’re gone,” he said.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends for their losses, such beautiful family and a very sad loss,” he said.

Inspector Monique Ralph said police had received a call of a disturbance at 3.45pm, before arriving just 10 minutes later and taking a man into custody about 4pm.

“On arrival we’ve located one male who is assisting us with our inquiries and we’ve also located two females who are deceased,” she said.

“At this stage we’re still speaking with the male and several other witnesses and family members, so we’re unable to speculate on the cause.

“The male is currently at the watch house being processed forensically at the moment, and from there his health and welfare will be assessed before detectives launch an investigation.”

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Originally published as Two women dead after Cairns stabbing