Gooseberry Hill, Perth: Daughters ‘heartbroken’ after alleged machete attack on their mother

The daughters of an alleged domestic violence victim have spoken of their heartbreak after their mother’s throat was slashed with a machete.

Paulette Mountford, 60, is known as a ‘warm’ church worker in the Perth community but now is fighting for her life after the alleged attack on Tuesday evening.

Neighbours found Ms Mountford in the front yard of a home in Gooseberry Hill, east Perth, with life-threatening stab wounds after her husband, 72-year-old Christopher John Sullivan, allegedly stabbed her at about 5.30pm.

The 60-year-old mother suffered injuries to her neck and torso and, as of Wednesday night, remains in a critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery.

Ms Mountford’s daughters released a statement on Wednesday as they struggled to process their mother’s injuries.

A large police operation responded to the incident at the Gooseberry Hill (pictured) home

‘It is too early to think of anything other than our mother’s recovery, so we ask that we are given space and privacy to concentrate on our Mum,’ they wrote.

‘Thank you to those that came to her aid in her time of need, and to those who continue to care for her.

‘We are devastated and utterly heartbroken that our dear mother has endured such a horrifying ordeal and is now fighting for her life at Royal Perth Hospital.

‘For such a kind-hearted person to suffer so deeply is hard for us to understand.

‘All that we want at this time is for our mother to overcome her injuries, and we pray and hope that she gets better soon. She is a strong woman and we know she will be using all her strength to get better.’

It’s alleged Sullivan barricaded himself inside a home on Jessie Road after the alleged attack, prompting a large police response with tactical officers in attendance.

Sullivan faced in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday while wearing a blue jumpsuit and said he wanted to represent himself, WA Today reported.

Magistrate Tanya Watt told Sullivan he would need legal advice for the serious allegations against him and adjourned the matter for later that day.

Sullivan’s appointed lawyer later returned alongside the accused and said he would apply for Legal Aid.

Sullivan entered did not enter a plea or apply for bail. 

He was remanded in custody to appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on June 26.

One of the couple’s neighbours, Lorraine, told 9News that Ms Mountford is a respected member of the Gooseberry Hill community.

‘She’s a very warm lady, she does a lot of work with the church as well,’ she said.

‘She goes to the church and actually works in domestic violence, she helps the ladies.’

Domestic violence has become a rampant issue in Australia with many describing it as an ‘epidemic’.

One in four Australian women have experienced violence at the hands of an intimate partner, the people who are meant to love them the most.

Paulette Mountford (left) is in critical condition after an alleged machete attack on Tuesday night on an east Perth street (right)

Ms Mountford (pictured) is a respected member of the Perth community and works to help women fleeing domestic violence

Counting Dead Women Australia, an organisation that tracks the violent deaths of women across the country, recorded 35 deaths up to June 2.

That means so far this year a woman has died due to gender-based violence once every four-and-a-half days.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence contact the 1800 RESPECT hotline on 1800 737 732 for support. 

Call 000 if you are in immediate danger.