A 21-year-old woman who police allege was paid to carry out a hit on a man in northern NSW has been charged with his attempted murder.
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The woman was arrested in Silverwater in Sydney's west on Tuesday morning and is due to face Parramatta Local Court over the assault in South Murwillumbah last year that left Michael Martin, 46, fighting for his life.
Mr Martin allegedly was stabbed in the eye during the assault at his home in Quarry Road on April 7. Another man, aged 49, was also seriously injured in the attack.
Mr Martin was recovering from those injuries after a lengthy stay in hospital. But just two months later, Mr Martin was killed in another break-in at his home on Quarry Road.
During that second attack in the early hours of June 13, Mr Martin's 25-year-old son was also in the house and was bound and gagged before his father was killed in front of him. The son also suffered head injuries in the attack.
Detectives established Strike Force Areae to investigate Mr Martin's death.
Detective Inspector Grant Taylor, from the Homicide Squad, said the 21-year-old woman from northern NSW was charged on Tuesday morning with attempted murder and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
Those charges relate to the first break-in at Mr Martin's house in April last year. Detectives said the woman was not present during the second home invasion in June, when Mr Martin was killed.
Police will allege in court that the woman, along with two other people, broke into the home in April and assaulted and stabbed Mr Martin. The woman had accepted payment to kill Mr Martin, police will allege.
Detective Inspector Taylor said the investigation was ongoing, and police needed help from the public.
"In particular we'd like to hear from anyone who noticed any suspicious behaviour in Quarry Road in the weeks leading up to [the April home invasion]," he said.
"We are also trying to identify if there is a link between that original incident on April 7, and the second home invasion [on June 13] which resulted in the death of Mr Martin."
Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
