Whitsunday detectives investigating a fire that destroyed a yacht yesterday have charged a woman with arson.
Water police were called to reports of an assault and fire onboard a 40-foot yacht moored within Pioneer Bay in the Whitsundays at around 5.40pm Friday, September 9.
The woman, the sole occupant on the boat at the time, was forced to jump into the ocean when flames engulfed the vessel. She was rescued by police and transported to hospital with serious injuries including burns to her legs.
Police will allege that a 64-year-old man who lived with the 54-year-old New Zealand woman on the yacht sustained minor injuries from an earlier disturbance and assault that day.
She has been denied police bail and is due to appear before the Court on Monday, September 12 charged with one count each of arson, assault and contravene a police protection notice (domestic violence), as well as two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm relating to earlier alleged incidents.
The woman remains in police custody in hospital.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, you should report it to police.
Support and counselling is available from the following agencies:
- DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811
- DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636
- 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
More information is also available from the Queensland Government Domestic and Family Violence portal.
