Tight-knit Logan community reels over mum’s gruesome farm machine death

A family who moved into a rural Logan property seven years ago for a peaceful life, ‘kept to themselves’, according to town residents who have cautiously watched forensic teams investigate horrific reports of a woman’s gruesome farmyard death. VIDEO | TIMELINE

A small southeast rural community remains in shock this weekend after grisly allegations a local woman died from an alleged domestic violence incident believed to have involved a farm tractor and slasher.

Amarjit Kaur Sardar, 41, died at the Woodhill acreage property she owned with husband Yadwinder Singh, who was charged with her murder on Friday.

The horror scenes are alleged to have played out before a beautiful rural backdrop, where the country roads are peaceful — the kind where the locals you pass, whether by car, horse or tractor, offer a friendly wave or polite nod.

But this week, as the close-knit community grapples with the harrowing details surrounding the alleged murder of one of their own — a mother residing on a sprawling acreage, much like many others in the vicinity — the locals are reeling.

Police investigate after a woman died at a Woodhill property Thursday. Picture: Nigel Hallett

They are meeting at the pub, at the servo, on the roadside and talking in utter bewilderment as they come to terms with how such a tragedy could play out in their quaint rural town.

The tiny town of Woodhill will never be the same after a gruesome farmyard death, say some residents.

As authorities continue their investigation, the scene of the incident — a rural farmstead — is under scrutiny.

Police and SES crews at the scene at the Woodhill property. Picture: Tertius Pickard

SES teams and forensic officers meticulously comb through the property’s paddocks, aided by the presence of a John Deere tractor, a chilling reminder of the alleged involvement of farm machinery in the incident.

A community rocked

The couple, who acquired the 55.5-hectare property in 2017, had two children who went to school in Beaudesert.

Heavy rain overnight on Thursday drenched the farming community forcing forensic teams at the Undullah Rd site to use sandbags to stop run-off and keep the scene dry.

Police crews investigate the death of a woman at an Undullah Rd property Woodhill. Picture: David Clark

SES crew walked in a line formation as the police investigation swept the ground at the front of the property where the tractor was parked near a large shed and 2m-high bamboo.

They later moved to the back of the property used to farm vegetables and keep goats.

Police said investigations would continue at the site over the weekend with forensic teams setting up tents to keep the site dry.

Neighbours in the tight-knit community closed ranks and did not want to comment, only saying the family was of Asian descent and kept to themselves.

Nearby residents were interviewed by police and gave statements to Logan CIB on Friday.

Locals in the nearby Veresdale Hotel — the meeting point of the tight-knit community — said the police investigation had sent shockwaves through the town of about 750 people.

One said the dead woman was of Asian descent and small in stature.

Veresdale Hotel publican Leon Mills says the farmyard death has shocked the tight-knit local community. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Publican Leon Mills said reports had indicated a gruesome death.

“Although I did not know the family personally, they would have come here for dinner,” he said.

“The property is very close and was probably used to grow organic vegetables to take to the markets.

“I would never have expected this to happen in Woodhill, it’s so quiet and peaceful.”

The family bought the property in 2017 for $750,000, after moving from Brisbane, possibly to make the most of the rural lifestyle and carry out farming.

Locals gathered at the nearby Veresdale Hotel after news of the allegedly gruesome death. Picture: JUDITH KERR

Local Matt Dunn said the reports were confronting.

He said most households in Woodhill were primarily couples with children and likely to be repaying $1800 – $2399 per month on mortgage repayments.

“This is a farming community around here so everyone knows that a slasher can be dangerous and leave pretty nasty wounds,” he said.

“It would be very difficult to run someone over with a slasher and pretty much every farm in this area has a tractor and uses heavy equipment.

Police are investigating the death of a woman allegedly run over by a tractor slasher in Woodhill near Beaudesert. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“Most properties around here are acreage and run cattle and I believe that property has goats.”

Mr Dunn said many local Asian farmers and Indian businesses had used a Woodhill halal abattoir to mark religious ceremonies.

Another local, who has lived in Woodhill for 48 years but did not want to be named, said “the family did not mix with the local community but the woman seemed like a nice person – quiet and devoted to her family”.

Logan’s Centre For Women & Co paid tribute to Amarjit Kaur Sardar, claiming her death was “close to home for many of us here at The Centre for Women & Co. and our sister services in the Logan and Scenic Rim Region”.

Police look inside a container while investigating the death of a mother at a property at Woodhill. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“We are incredibly saddened and sickened to hear of Amarjit’s alleged murder and can hardly bear to imagine her last moments.

“Our thoughts are with her two children, her family, her friends and her loved ones.”

Undullah Rd was partly closed while police conducted their investigation.

What police allege

Thursday, February 15

– Around 9am police are called to a property at Woodhill where they find a severely injured woman, identified as Amarjit Kaur Sardar. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

– By the afternoon, the property is swarmed by police as investigations begin.

– A 44-year-old man assists with police inquiries.

Friday, February 16

– Before 6am, police announce Yadwinder Singh, 44, of Woodhill has been charged with murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with corpse by interfering.

– SES crews and police begin to scour the property for evidence despite significant rain.

– At 10am Detective Inspector Chris Knight addressed media at Logan Central Police Station, where he reveals police will allege Singh murdered his wife before interfering with her corpse and claiming it was an accident. Det Insp Knight also alleges Singh had called triple-0 to report the death of his wife and a recording of that phone call had been listened to by investigators.

“There were some observations that our investigators made on our initial triage with the scene that gave us concerns that there may have been some manipulation of the crime scene,” he says at the press conference.

– Mr Singh faces Beenleigh Magistrates Court around 10.40am, before being remanded in custody. Police prosecution say forensics of the tractor and phone records will need to be analysed. A full brief of evidence is ordered by May 17.

– The Centre for Women & Co. releases a statement sharing their condolences with Amarjit’s loved ones.

Originally published as Tight-knit Logan community reels over mum’s gruesome farm machine death