Neighbour’s shock at alleged murder in Bungalow

Neighbours of a Far North Qld woman have expressed shock and sadness following the death of woman and the arrest of her 25-year-old relative, who has been charged with murder. Watch the video.

Neighbours of a Bungalow woman have expressed shock and sadness following the death of the 67-year-old and the arrest of her 25-year-old relative charged with murder.

Debra Hunter was found by emergency services at a Joan St address on Monday afternoon suffering life-threatening head injuries.

Efforts to save the Joan St resident of more than 40 years were unsuccessful and she was declared dead at the scene.

Early on Monday morning police charged Cairns North woman Jadine Jasmina Calthorpe with one count of murder (domestic violence).

Evidence markers on the staircase of the Joan St property. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Cairns North woman Jadine Jasmina Calthorpe has been charged with one count of murder. Picture: Facebook

Neighbour Suzi Tuhega, visibly upset by the death of her neighbour, said screams could be heard from the house on Monday afternoon and her daughter called an ambulance.

She said her relationship was a neighbourly one and she used to feed Ms Hunter’s dog when she was away.

“It was nothing too close,” she said.

Crime scene investigators remained at the Joan St house on Monday morning after looking for clues all night.

Following investigations officers arrested and charged a 25-year-old Cairns North woman with murder (domestic violence offence). Picture: Peter Carruthers

Evidence markers were placed by investigating officers on the staircase at the front of the highset Queenslander while the perimeter was cordoned off with police crime scene tape.

Acting Detective Inspector Cindy Searle declined to reveal what police will allege in court, whether Ms Calthorpe pushed the victim down the stairs, or how the head injury was inflicted.

She said no weapons were involved and no further arrests were expected.

Inspector Searle also declined to clarify the exact relationship between the victim and the accused but did say the pair were related.

“(The victim) was found at the bottom of the stairs,” she said.

Acting Detective Inspector Cindy Searle. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“Until we get the autopsy, we can’t really definitively define any injuries at this point in time.

The alleged victim was named as the sole occupant of the Joan St house and the accused was found at the residence when the police arrived.

Inspector Searle said she understood how the homicide could impact people living nearby given the tight-knit nature of the neighbourhood.

“Violence in our community is not tolerated in any form, and it is very distressing for people who experience it first hand or by hearing of it or violence occurring near to where they live,” she said.

“I do understand it is a residential street, and it will be very challenging for the people who know the deceased and the rest of her family.”

Crime scene investigators have set up at a Joan St house in Bungalow Cairns following the alleged murder of a 67-year-old woman at about 3pm on Monday September 23. Following investigations, officers arrested and charged a 25-year-old Cairns North woman with murder (domestic violence offence). Picture: Peter Carruthers

Another neighbour who asked not to be named said she was home at the time of the incident but didn’t hear anything.

She was shocked to find out later that a woman had died and that a relative had been charged.

“It’s very sad to think that somebody has passed away as a result of whatever’s occurred,” she said.

“The death of anybody is sad, and death of somebody who’s not much older than myself is very sad, I feel like I have a lot of life to live.

The Cairns North woman charged with murder is expected to face court on Monday, September 24. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“She probably played cricket up and down the street with all the other young people as a child.”

Ms Calthorpe, after being held in the Cairns watch-house overnight, fronted the Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday.

During a short hearing a brief of evidence was ordered in time for a November 29 committal call-over.

Ms Calthorpe was remanded in custody.

Originally published as Neighbour’s shock at alleged murder in Bungalow