Police have charged three people following an investigation into a stabbing and a house fire in the state's north-east last month.
In March, investigators attached to Oxley Police District established Strike Force Leie to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing and house fire.
Just after 10.30pm on Tuesday 5 March 2024, emergency services were called to a home on Kingston Street, Spring Ridge, after reports a woman was stabbed and her home was deliberately lit.
The occupant of the home – a woman aged 58 – was assaulted and stabbed, and her home deliberately lit by a group of men before they fled the location.
She was taken to Tamworth Hospital for treatment of a wound and burns.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze; however, the home was destroyed.
Following inquiries, about 10pm on Sunday 10 March 2023, police attended an airport at Tamworth and arrested a 26-year-old man, and he was taken to Tamworth Police Station.
He was charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-wound, reckless wounding - in company, damage property by fire/exp >$15000, and damage property by fire/explosive with intent injure.
Following further inquiries, just after 8.30am on Tuesday (16 April 2024), police attended two homes on Coonabarabran Road, Spring Ridge, and arrested two men – aged 30 and 31.
They were both taken to Gunnedah Police Station.
The older man was charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-wound, reckless wounding - in company, and damage property by fire/exp >$15000.
The other man was charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-wound, reckless wounding - in company, damage property by fire/exp >$15000, and damage property by fire/explosive with intent injure.
The two older men appeared at Armidale Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 17 April 2024), where they were given conditional bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday 12 June 2024.
The 26-year-old was refused bail and appeared at Armidale Local Court on Monday 11 March 2024, where he was given conditional bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday 12 June 2024.
Inquiries are continuing.
