Man charged with woman’s murder in alleged ‘domestic violence related homicide’

A woman's body was discovered inside a home in what police allege was a domestic violence related murder.

A man has been charged with murder after a woman’s body was found inside a home in South Australia’s South East region in what police are alleging was a domestic violence related homicide.

Emergency services were called to the property along Chestnut Close at Mount Gambier, near the Victorian border, just after 7.30pm on Sunday.

Detectives from the Limestone Coast CIB found the 44-year-old woman’s body inside, where major crime and forensic response teams examined the scene.

An investigation led police to arrest and charge Luke Raymond Simpson, 34, with Rachel Martin’s murder.

Limestone Coast Local Service Area officer in charge, Campbell Hill, said police were treating the incident as a domestic violence related homicide.

He confirmed the accused and the victim – who had adult children from a previous relationship – were known to each other and police were not searching for other suspects.

However, the officer could not comment if a weapon was used in the alleged homicide.

Rachel Martin was allegedly murdered in her Mount Gambier home on Sunday. Picture: Supplied by the family

Superintendent Hill said police were working to determine the context and dynamics of the relationship, and urged those who knew Ms Martin or Mr Simpson to come forward and assist.

“The nature of how the deceased was located raised enough concern that the police were contacted,” he told reporters on Monday afternoon.

He said the incident would take an “emotional toll” on Ms Martin’s family who were already “very upset”.

“To lose a loved one to begin with is tragic enough, to have it linked in with a homicide and what police are alleging is a domestic related homicide is just devastating.

“We're doing our best to support them.”

Loved ones have begun sending condolences, expressing their sorrows on social media.

One friend wrote: “May you rest in peace my girl. You've been suddenly taken from us in circumstances beyond belief. RIP.”

Mr Simpson was refused police bail and appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Monday, where he did not apply for bail.