Woman in her 50s is found dead inside Rooty Hill, west Sydney, home after desperate call for help

A woman has been found dead inside a home while her ex-husband has been taken to hospital under police guard.

Emergency services were called to a home in Alice Street, Rooty Hill in Sydney’s west at 8.15pm on Tuesday to find Christine Rakic’s lifeless body.

Police had been called by a relative over concerns for Ms Rakic’s welfare. 

Officers rushed to the scene but the woman had already died from ‘significant injuries’. 

Ms Rakic’s ex-husband, Dusan, 50, was also found at the house, with injuries to his throat and arms.

Police had been called by a relative over concerns for Ms Rakic’s welfare

Police are seen at the scene in Rooty Hill on Wednesday morning 

Emergency services were called to a home in Alice Street, Rooty Hill in the city’s west at 8.15pm on Tuesday over concerns for a women’s welfare (pictured, the scene)

He was taken to Westmead Hospital under police guard. He is expected to undergo surgery on Wednesday.

Daily Mail Australia understands an apprehended violence order between the couple was filed in June this year.

‘A crime scene has been established and investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident,’ a NSW Police statement read.

Forensic police spent the night scouring the scene for evidence as detectives scramble to determine what happened.

Police had been called to the home over concerns for Ms Rakic’s welfare

Police remain at the scene on Wednesday morning. 

Neighbours said they heard two loud screams from the house and then silence, before police arrived 15 minutes later. 

‘My brother heard two big loud screams from the house next door around 8.15 last night,’ said neighbour Kirita Lopa. 

‘Then we had the police banging on our door minutes later. It’s awful. I knew the guy very well – he called me ‘sister’. I talked to him early every day.

‘He was always talking about God and how great God was. He’d say ”Look at he sky, how great is that? God is beautiful”.

Neighbours say the couple had split some time ago 

‘I only saw his wife occasionally, but his teenage daughter and her younger brother were round there regularly.’

Another neighbour said Rakic had only just moved back into the property – which he and his wife bought in 1998 for $100,000 – after renting it out for years.

‘I think he had split up with his wife a couple of years ago,’ added Shannon Brennan who lives opposite the home.

‘He kept himself to himself – his kids came round and occasionally his wife but she didn’t stay long. 

‘I think they were in the process of getting a divorce and selling the home. I know he had spoken to one of our other neighbours whose in real estate about selling it.’ 

Outside the home, a 26-year-old silver Toyota Corolla was roped off by police tape, while a second car, a purple, Mazda 6, with a child seat in the back and a wooden butterfly hanging from the rear view mirror was also taped off. 

The Mazda was later taken away by police.

Mr Brennan said he never saw anyone visiting the home aside from his children and the rare visits of his ex-wife.

‘He had a bloke come and work on the house from time to time to time but other than that he was just there on his own,’ he said.

More to come