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Peter Scammell charged with murder of former partner Katrina Hawker after overdose coronial

The partner of a nurse originally believed to have overdosed has been charged with her murder and extradited to the Northern Territory to face justice.

The partner of late RDH nurse Katrina Hawker has now been charged with her murder. Picture: Facebook
The partner of late RDH nurse Katrina Hawker has now been charged with her murder. Picture: Facebook

The partner of a nurse originally believed to have overdosed has been charged with her murder and extradited to the Northern Territory to face justice.

Royal Darwin Hospital nurse Katrina Sheridan Hawker, 43, died in September 2020 in the backyard of a Bakewell home she shared with partner of two decades Peter Scammell.

Her cause of death was ostensibly a self-administered overdose of alcohol and Temazepam sleeping pills.

Peter Scammell and Katrina Hawker. Picture: Facebook
Peter Scammell and Katrina Hawker. Picture: Facebook

But a coronial inquest last year referred the case to the NT Police Force and the Director of Public Prosecutions, after finding an offence may have been committed in connection with the death.

In a statement the NT Police Force said 44-year-old Scammell was arrested in Victoria last week and charged with one count of murder.

He is expected to arrive in Darwin under police escort on Wednesday.

Scammell was remanded in custody and will face Darwin Local Court on Thursday.

Originally published as Peter Scammell charged with murder of former partner Katrina Hawker after overdose coronial

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/peter-scammell-charged-with-murder-of-former-partner-katrina-hawker-after-overdose-coronial/news-story/5d2b493b8b2858c38e5bf7a28690045d