Norman Garden suspicious death: Murder charges laid

Chris Catling, 51, died in hospital as a result of an alleged single stab wound by a knife to his chest in at the family home in North Rockhampton.

Chris Catling and Kerrie Catling. Kerrie Catling has been charged over the alleged murder of her husband Chris in March 2021.

UPDATE WEDNESDAY: Kerrie Lee Catling spent her first night in custody after being charged with the murder of her husband Chris Catling.

The mother-of-four, 49, was charged with murder on Tuesday morning over the alleged stabbing death which occured at the couple’s Norman Gardens home in March 2021, and had her matter mentioned in court for the first on Tuesday afternoon, August 3.

While Mrs Catling didn’t appear in court herself, solicitor Grant Cagney appeared on her behalf as an agent for Jacobson Mahony lawyers.

As the Rockhampton Magistrates Court, which the matter was heard in, had no jurisdiction to grant bail for the charge, Mr Cagney asked for a full brief of evidence and for Mrs Catling to be remanded in custody.

Magistrate Jason Schubert adjourned the matter to September 22 for a committal mention.

UPDATE, 2PM: The wife of Chris Catling has been charged with one count of murder (domestic violence offence) and is expected to appear in Rockhampton Magistrates Court late Tuesday.

Kerrie Catling, 49, was arrested by Rockhampton detectives on Tuesday morning for the alleged murder of her husband, which allegedly took place in their Norman Gardens family home earlier this year.

MORE LOCAL NEWS: No water, power, food: Drug trafficker with 21 siblings’ rough life exposed

Police were called to the Cypress Avenue residence around midday on March 22 to reports of an alleged assault.

Chris Catling, 51, allegedly sustained a single stab wound to his chest and was taken to Rockhampton hospital where he later died.

The stab wound is believed to be from a knife.

Rockhampton CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Luke Peachey said the four-month investigation was undertaken by Rockhampton police and the Brisbane homicide squad.

“It has been a protracted investigation and one that our investigative team had done a great job with, it has been many hours,” Mr Peachey said.

Kerrie Catling has been charged with the alleged murder of Chris Catling

Mr Peachey thanked everyone who had been involved in the complex investigation.

“A number of witnesses have come forward and provided information to police which have helped us further the investigation,” he said.

“It has been an amazing effort from the investigative team to finally get to this point.”

MORE LOCAL NEWS: ‘History in our grasp’: NRL refunds forthcoming, future regional games expected

Mr Catling’s family has been notified of the murder charge.

“We have been liaising with the family all along, speaking with them constantly, we have updated them now,” Mr Peachey said.

“Certainly parts of the family are very pleased with what has occurred today, it’s a very sad day for some family members and we get that.

“We offer assistance and support to those other family members.

“It’s a sad day … Tragically a 51 year old has lost his life and a 49-year-old female has been charged and many of those people were known to all those family members.”

Mrs Catling was denied police bail and is now in Rockhampton Watchhouse.

“She will appear in magistrates court this afternoon; bail will be opposed,” Mr Peachey said.

“We will go from there with the compiling of the brief and the court appearances coming up.

“We will let the court process take its process now.”

The couple had four children together and formerly lived in Blackwater and Middlemount.

There had been no domestic violence offences regarding the relationship reported to police previously.

INITIAL, 10AM: A 49-year-old woman has been charged with the alleged murder of Chris Catling in Rockhampton earlier this year.

Emergency services were called to a Norman Gardens residence on March 22 to reports of an alleged assault.

Chris Catling died from an alleged single stab wound at a Norman Gardens home on March 22, 2021. A woman has been charged with his alleged murder.

Chris Catling, 51, allegedly sustained a single stab wound to his chest.

He was taken to hospital where he later died.

Police are investigating a man's death at Norman Gardens March 22 2021

Mr Catling was formerly of Blackwater and Middlemount and had four children and one great grandchild.

Police investigations have been ongoing since the incident and it was announced Tuesday morning a 49-year-old woman had been charged with murder.

The woman is expected to appear in Rockhampton Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Originally published as Norman Garden suspicious death: Murder charges laid