There are concerns a Victorian man accused of murdering his partner and mother of his two children could try to kill himself in custody.
Shane Robertson, 28, is accused of fatally striking 29-year-old Katherine Haley in the head with a blunt object at Diggers Rest, in Melbourne’s outer northwest, on Friday night.
He was charged with her murder on Saturday night, 20 hours after he was arrested in nearby Sunbury.
The body of young mum Katie Haley (pictured with her partner Shane Robertson) was found at her home on Friday night
The couple had two young children together and reportedly rented the home in Diggers Rest, north east Melbourne
Mr Robertson appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday, where his lawyer told the magistrate that his client urgently needed to see a psychiatric nurse.
‘I am concerned about his mental state. There’s some suicidal ideation,’ she said.
‘I have concerns of self-harm.’
Mr Robertson appeared dishevelled in the court dock, dressed in a black T-shirt and trousers with dyed hair.
The court was told it was his first time in custody.
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to reappear in court on Tuesday (March 13).
Police were called shortly after 11pm on Friday night and found Ms Haley’s body inside the property, Victoria Police said
Ms Haley’s family said they’d been touched by ‘an act of pure evil’.
‘She did not deserve what happened to her,’ a family statement sent to the Herald Sun stated.
‘Our beautiful Katie girl, not only did we lose a much-loved daughter and sister, but two precious children lost their beautiful mother.’
According to the pair’s Facebook pages, they had been in a relationship since August 2014.
Ms Haley is understood to be a hairdresser but was working at Castello’s Victorian Tavern, a nearby pub.
Shocked friends have posted tributes online.
Police launched a murder investigation and charged Katie Haley’s partner on Saturday night
‘My heart breaks for your family… and most of all my heart beaks for such a beautiful person and mother gone too soon and so unnecessarily.I will miss your face and all our nail dates RIP forever beautiful. Katie Haley shine bright,’ Lana Ryan posted on Facebook.
Another friend added: ‘You were such a sweet caring and loving person. Your kids were so lucky to have such an amazing mother like you and it’s just devastating to think that they have lost you it’s just not fair. All my love and support goes out to your family.’
Tania Haley-Unwin, thought to be Ms Haley’s mother, said: ‘May our beautiful daughter, sister and mum rest in peace. I promise to look after your beautiful children.’
Mum of two Katie Haley, who is understood to be a hairdresser but also worked at a nearby pub, was described as a ‘beautiful person’
‘Our beautiful Katie girl, not only did we lose a much-loved daughter and sister, but two precious children lost their beautiful mother,’ a family statement said
The couple had been in a relationship since August 2014, according to their Facebook pages
Emergency services were called to the quiet suburban street shortly after 11pm on Friday.
Mr Robertson was arrested in nearby Sunbury two hours later and spent most of Saturday being questioned by police before he was eventually charged.
Neighbours said the incident came just days after arguing and swearing had been allegedly heard coming from the house but heard nothing during the incident.
‘During the week I’ve heard a lot of arguing,’ Terry Parnis told the Herald Sun.
‘It’s a very quiet street, the nosiest thing we get is birds.’
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