Sunbury hit-and-run: Woman charged with murder of partner
A VICTORIAN woman faced court on Monday accused of mowing down her partner with her car. She did not apply for bail.
A WOMAN charged with murdering a man who was run over by a car in a suspected domestic violence dispute has appeared in a Melbourne court with a black eye.
Jessie Donker, 29, faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with murdering Richard Powell at a kindergarten carpark in Sunbury, in Melbourne’s northwest, on Sunday.
Donker did not apply for bail and her defence lawyer said she has been diagnosed as bipolar.
Emergency services were called to Sunbury about 6.15am yesterday and found a 32-year-old man dead at the scene.
Ms Donker, 29, faced an out-of-sessions court hearing on Sunday night and appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
Neighbours heard a screaming match before Mr Powell, a father-of-two, was allegedly struck in the Stewarts Lane Kindergarten carpark, the Herald Sun reported.
“I heard, I think, two different voices. It was harsh screaming,” a teenager told the Herald Sun.
“I thought people were having a bit of a rowdy session near our house with their cars.”
Police later arrested a woman, also aged in her 30s, who allegedly drove the car from the scene.
Donker, believed to be Mr Powell’s partner, was charged with murder last night.
Nine News reported the couple had been in a relationship for almost a decade and had two young children.
Homicide Squad detective Nick Densley told the Herald Sun the victim had suffered “a number of head injuries” and police didn’t believe it was a random attack.
Police are now piecing together what led to the man’s death.
