Man charged mother's murder in Inverell: bail refused

Bradley Craig Mottram did not appear in Moree Local Court and his solicitor Neurelle Lyon said there was no application for bail when his case was briefly mentioned.

The 19-year-old is accused of stabbing his mother, 51-year-old Simone Mottram several times in her Froude St home yesterday, before her body was discovered by police and paramedics just after 2.30pm Monday.

Magistrate Michael O'Brien ordered Mottram to undergo a series of health checks and remanded him in custody.

Mottram is charged with one count of murder and prosecutors have been ordered to compile a brief of evidence into the case, which has been adjourned to Armidale in December. Mottram is due to appear via video link.

Strike Force Lotred has been set up by New England detectives and investigators from the State Crime Command's homicide squad to investigate Ms Mottram's death.

"It appears she suffered a number of stab wounds during the alleged attack," New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader .

"The forensic examination of those premises is continuing today and it is anticipated a post mortem examination will be conducted at Newcastle tomorrow."

Police would not comment on the weapon used in yesterday's incident but said investigations, including what sparked the alleged attack, were ongoing.

"That forms part of the investigation, the circumstances before that incident," Detective Inspector Joy said.

Mottram, who lives on the Central Coast, was believed to have been visiting his mother in Inverell in recent days, before yesterday's alleged attack unfolded at the home.

He was arrested just after 3.30pm on Monday after crashing a red Hyundai Getz, about half an hour out of Inverell on the Copeton Dam Rd.

A second crime scene was set up at the scene, and the car has since been towed for forensic examination as investigators try and piece together what happened yesterday afternoon.

"Anyone that may have observed that red coloured Hyundai Getz vehicle is urged to contact Inverell detectives at Inverell Police Station," Detective Inspector Joy said.

Mottram is next to appear in court in December 2015.

UPDATE: Detectives have a charged a man with the murder of his mother after her body was discovered inside an Inverell home on Monday afternoon.

The 19-year-old spent the night in custody at Inverell Police Station and will front court today, accused of murdering his 51-year-old mother.

The woman's body was discovered in a Froude St home in Inverell where police said she had suffered a number of stab wounds, and died at the scene.

A crime scene was set up at the home which was examined by forensic officers overnight.

The 19-year-old man was arrested after a car crash on Copeton Dam Rd on Monday afternoon.

nverell's Chief Inspector Rowan O'Brien said the man had "lost control, travelled on the incorrect side of the roadway and travelled down an embankment".

"The vehicle wasn't registered to him and police have made subsequent inquiries at an address in Inverell where the vehicle was registered," Chief Inspector O'Brien said.

Chief Inspector O'Brien said the man had been living on the Central Coast and had only recently returned to stay at the Inverell house.

"We're not suggesting he was under influence of alcohol or drugs," he said. "That's all part of the ongoing inquiries.

"The motor vehicle has obviously been seized for forensic purposes."

The man was refused bail and will appear in Moree Local Court on Tuesday.

EARLIER: A MAN was last night being questioned by detectives after a woman’s body was discovered in an Inverell home yesterday afternoon.

Forensic police, detectives and police were scouring a Froude St home for clues late last night after the gruesome discovery was made.

Ambulance paramedics and police were called to the home just after 2.30pm where the woman was found with fatal injuries, triggering a major police operation.

A crime scene was set up with police guarding the front gate.

The home was cordoned off, with New England detectives and forensic police called in to comb the scene of the suspicious death.

Shortly after the woman’s body was discovered, police received reports of a car crash on Copeton Dam Rd, about 8km from the dam, involving a red hatchback which they believe could have links to the dead woman. 

A man, believed to be aged in his early 20s, was arrested at the crash scene at 3.40pm and it’s believed his clothing has been taken for forensic testing as investigators start to piece together what happened to the woman at the Froude St home.

Extra units were called from Barwon and New England police, along with highway patrol officers, who rushed to the crash site, which was on the border of the policing commands.

The man was taken under police guard to Inverell Police Station about 4pm, where paramedics were expected to examine him as he suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Last night, police could not comment on the nature of the woman’s death but said an investigation was ongoing.

“A police operation is currently underway in Inverell after the discovery of a woman’s body,” New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader.

“A man is currently assisting with inquiries.”

Investigators, including detectives, were seen videoing and photographing the second crime scene near Copeton Dam before the red hatchback was towed from the area and taken to a police holding yard.

Skid marks on the road could be seen just metres from where the hatchback left the road on a straight stretch and crashed into an embankment.

Investigations are continuing.