A man will face court today charged with the alleged murder of a woman near Cessnock.
About 7.30pm on Friday (31 October 2025), emergency services were called to a home on Ellalong Street, Kearsley, following reports of a concern for welfare.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended and located the body of a 39-year-old woman with a gunshot wound in the home.
Following the discovery, Hunter Valley detectives, assisted by State Crime Command's Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Keavall to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman's death.
About 6.45pm yesterday (Saturday 1 November 2025), following extensive investigations, strike force detectives attended a sporting club carpark on Eaton Street, Bellbird, where they arrested a 37-year-old man.
Following the arrest, strike force detectives searched a parked Hyundai Tucson locating and seizing a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition.
The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with murder, possess prohibited drug (two counts), possess unauthorised prohibited firearm and possess ammunition w/o holding licence/permit/authority.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Sunday 2 November 2025).
