Woman allegedly murdered by partner in Ilperle Tyathe (Warlpiri) town camp in Alice Springs
A woman found dead in the Red Centre came under a ‘sustained attack’, police say, but her partner – arrested in relation to the death – is yet to be charged. Read the latest.
Update, February 10, 2pm: A “sustained attack” has left a woman dead in Alice Springs, but police say a man arrested in relation to the incident is yet to be charged.
On Monday, Northern Territory Police acting commander crime and intelligence command Drew Slape gave an update on the investigation into an alleged domestic violence death in Alice Springs.
On Sunday morning a 41-year-old woman was allegedly bashed to death in the Ilperle Tyathe (Warlpiri) town camp, north of Alice Springs.
“The deceased was assaulted and she suffered some fairly significant injuries to her head as a result,” Mr Slape said.
“The nature of the injuries to the victim are certainly indicative that there may have been or there was a lot of blunt force trauma.
“It’s certainly not something that we rule out, but we’ll know more once the post mortem has been conducted.
“It’s not clear at this stage whether there was a weapon involved.
“What is clear though is that there was a sustained attack in or nearby the residence in which the victim was found deceased.”
The post mortem to determine the cause of death would take place on Tuesday, Mr Slape said.
A 39-year-old man – who is the woman’s partner – was arrested in relation to the death, Mr Slape said.
“At this stage, no charges have been laid. We expect that to happen probably in the next 24 hours or so,” he said.
Mr Slape said alcohol was consumed by both the deceased and the arrested man prior to the death.
“We are exploring evidence that they were at licenced premises,” he said.
“There’s no indication at this stage that any other drugs, illicit substances, or hand sanitiser for that matter, were a factor.”
There were no direct witnesses to the incident, however there was a “fairly substantial amount of forensic evidence” at the scene, Mr Slape said.
Mr Slape said a number of “ancillary witnesses” had also provided statements.
Initial, February 9: A 41-year-old woman has allegedly lost her life at the hands of her partner in Alice Springs – just weeks after a man fronted court charged with murdering his wife.
The NT News understands a woman was allegedly bashed to death at Ilperle Tyathe (Warlpiri) town camp, north of Alice Springs, in the early hours of Sunday.
By Sunday afternoon, officers and detectives were still on the scene in the south western corner of the camp, where a crime scene was set up.
A detective at the scene directed queries to the NT Police media department.
In a statement, police said a 39-year-old man was in custody in relation to the death of the 41-year-old woman.
The statement said police were treating the death as suspicious, with detectives from Crime Command investigating.
Police were first on the scene at 8am on Sunday, the statement said.
Residents of the camp asked for respect and privacy and provided no further comment.
The tragedy is the second alleged DV death in Alice Springs for 2025, following the discovery of a 51-year-old woman’s body in the Todd River on January 13.
The woman was an internationally recognised artist and mother.
She was the first woman to allegedly die at the hands of her partner in 2025.
In that incident, Patrick Jungala Nolan, 49, was charged with the murder of his wife on January 13, making his first court appearance two days after.
He is yet to enter a plea.
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Originally published as Woman allegedly murdered by partner in Ilperle Tyathe (Warlpiri) town camp in Alice Springs
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