Man charged with murder over woman’s death in Hunter Valley

6 hours ago 3

A man has been charged with murder after a woman’s body was found at a Hunter Valley home on Friday night following a suspected domestic violence incident.

Christopher McLoughney, 37, will face court on Sunday after strike force detectives arrested him at a sporting club carpark in Bellbird, west of Newcastle, about 6.45pm on Saturday. Police allege he was in possession of a sawn-off shotgun.

Christopher McLoughney will face court charged with murder.

The alarm was raised after a child walked 300 to 400 metres from a home on Ellalong Street in Kearsley, near Cessnock, to flag down passing motorists on Friday evening.

Police then found the body of a 39-year-old woman with a gunshot wound when they attended the home about 7.30pm.

Nine News identified the woman as Rhukaya Lake, McLoughney’s partner. The pair lived together and had been in an intimate relationship since June.

Rhukaya Lake, 39, had lived around Cessnock for most of her life.

“It’s very sad. The mother had a lot of blood coming from her head,” a neighbour told Nine News.

Hunter Valley Police District Commander Superintendent Steve Laksa described the death as a “traumatic incident”.

“I can only imagine the adverse impact this is going to have on community members and the family members,” he said.

Police had appealed for the public’s help during Saturday’s manhunt for McLoughney, who they warned may be armed.

He was taken to Cessnock Police Station on Saturday night. Police charged him with murder, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence.

He was refused bail and will face Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

Police at a home in Kearsley on Saturday, where they discovered the body of a 39-year-old woman.

Police removed paper bags of evidence from the white weatherboard home on the outskirts of Cessnock on Saturday.

“It’s just devastating, really, for our community,” neighbour Michelle Antonio told Nine News. “It’s very heartbreaking.”

Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1800 512 348; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).