Bankstown mother dead: Katherine Safranko is found dead with horrific head injuries at her home as son Troy is arrested just a day after being released on bail

By Max Aitchison For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:15 BST, 2 October 2023 | Updated: 09:31 BST, 2 October 2023

A man who was arrested after his mother was found dead with horrific head injuries had been released on bail one day earlier for allegedly trying to choke her.

Firefighters were responding to reports of a blaze at a Bankstown home, in Sydney’s west, when they found Katherine Safranko, 67, in the backyard with catastrophic head injuries on Sunday at 7pm. 

She could not be saved. Police tasered Mrs Safranko’s son Troy Safranko, 31, who was found in the driveway of a neighbour’s home, allegedly carrying a knife, according to the Daily Telegraph. 

Firefighters were responding to reports of a fire at a suburban Bankstown property when they found Katherine Safranko (pictured), 67, in the backyard with catastrophic head injuries on Sunday at 7pm

Firefighters were responding to reports of a fire at a suburban Bankstown property when they found Katherine Safranko (pictured), 67, in the backyard with catastrophic head injuries on Sunday at 7pm 

Detective Superintendent Martin Hayston said the fire brigade had extinguished a small blaze inside the home when they found Mrs Safranko.

‘She had significant head injuries but her actual cause of death won’t be determined until the post-mortem is carried out in the next few days,’ Superintendent Hayston said.

Two officers fired their Tasers at Mr Safranko. 

‘He (allegedly) had a knife in his hand when police arrived and he did approach them, and shortly after the tasers were discharged,’ Superintendent Hayston added. 

Police tasered Mrs Safranko's son Troy Safranko, 31, who was found in the driveway of a neighbour's home, allegedly carrying a knife, according to the Daily Telegraph

Police tasered Mrs Safranko's son Troy Safranko, 31, who was found in the driveway of a neighbour's home, allegedly carrying a knife, according to the Daily Telegraph

Police tasered Mrs Safranko’s son Troy Safranko, 31, who was found in the driveway of a neighbour’s home, allegedly carrying a knife, according to the Daily Telegraph 

Pictured: forensic officers scour the alleged crime scene

Pictured: forensic officers scour the alleged crime scene

Pictured: forensic officers scour the alleged crime scene 

Mr Safranko was taken to Bankstown police station before being transferred to a hospital where he remains under police guard. 

Superintendent Hayston confirmed that police had responded to an incident at the same property on Friday which resulted in Mr Safranko being charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentionally choking a person. 

An apprehended violence order with strict bail conditions banning Mr Safranko from going within 100 metres of his mother’s home or workplace was taken out by police over concerns for her safety.

Mr Safranko remains before the courts for the earlier incident. 

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