New Zealand relatives rushed to be with a 24-year-old woman who died after a brutal assault on the Gold Coast this week.
Photo: 123rf.com
Tara Brown's car was run off the road on Tuesday and she was repeatedly bashed with a metal plate while she lay injured in the upturned car.
Her former parter, ex-Bandidos biker gang member Lionel Patea, was charged with attempted murder at a hospital bedside hearing yesterday, where he is recovering from self-inflicted stab wounds to the neck and chest. The charge will be upgraded to murder today, Queensland police said.
It has been reported that Ms Brown is a New Zealander.
Ms Brown, who has one young child, was on life support after the attack on Tuesday but died around 9pm last night at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Police said New Zealand relatives rushed to be at her bedside but it was not known if they had arrived by the time she died.
The couple had been in an on-off relationship for some time.
Police allege Patea waited for Ms Brown at a childcare centre on the morning of the attack.
They claim the pair were then involved in a physical altercation while stopped in separate cars at traffic lights.
Detectives said Ms Brown sought help from police last week on domestic violence-related issues.
Australian Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller said the matter was being investigated.
"The appropriateness of the response in relation to her visiting a police station .... that has been reported to the Ethical Standards Command which was the right thing to do," Ms Miller said.
"And a senior officer will be investigating the appropriateness of the response to her [Ms Brown] seeking assistance."
- RNZ/ABC
