A man has been charged with domestic violence offences as part of investigations into a single-car crash that saw four people killed on a rural New South Wales road.
Police said they were told the rear door of a home in Yanco, near Leeton was allegedly kicked in and a resident threatened shortly after 11pm on Tuesday, minutes before the fatal crash.
About 15 minutes later Tania Murphy, 36, along with three children were travelling along a remote road when their car hit a pole, flipped and landed upside down in a farming canal.
No charges have been laid in relation to the crash.
But following investigations, police arrested Murphy’s boyfriend Dean Cluney, 32, and a 50-year-old woman at a unit in Griffith yesterday morning.
“They were taken to Griffith Police Station where the man was charged with two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic), and one count of aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence,” police said.
The woman was released without charge.
Cluney was refused bail to appear in Griffith Local Court today.
He did not apply for bail and did not appear via videolink.
Murphy’s family said they were in shock over the deaths.
Family members told 9News: “We’re devastated, we simply can’t believe they’re all gone”.
The deaths of Murphy and the children have also left the small community of Leeton reeling.
”It is such a tragedy to lose four people in a single-vehicle accident especially when three children are involved,” Leeton Shire Mayor Tony Reneker said.
“It is a ripple effect to the whole community.”
The crash takes the road toll in NSW this year to 83.
Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Source: 9news.com.au
