Newcastle woman, 47, dies after being Tasered by police: Witness tells how she picked up an axe over neighbourhood dispute
Newcastle woman, 47, dies after being tasered by police: Witness tells how she picked up an ax after neighborhood dispute
- A woman has died after being tasered by police
- She allegedly threatened officers with an ax
The neighbor of a woman who died after being tasered by police has revealed the violent standoff started as a property dispute.
NSW Police were called to a unit in Stockton, near Newcastle, about 12.30pm on Thursday after reports the woman was threatening people with an axe.
She reportedly threatened officers upon their arrival before barricading herself in the home.
Specialist tactical officers entered the property at around 9.45pm and used a Taser to detain her.
After the tasering, she was taken to John Hunter Hospital, where she died.
Pictured: A tactical officer on scene in Stockton
In the photo: police at the units
Michael Cuneo, who lives in a house next to the units, told Daily Mail Australia the woman had had an argument with her landlord over a barber shop at the bottom of her building.
“She had been behaving unusually for a week and was complaining about the hairdresser’s customers,” he said.
‘Yesterday the owner of the barber shop went to put the bins inside because it was baking night, but she shouted at him and told him to leave the garden.
‘She kept telling people that the whole back of the building was hers and that no one else could get in.’
Mr Cuneo said the unit owner decided the best solution was to serve the woman with a 14-day eviction notice to avoid future conflict and called police as witnesses.
“The real estate agents came by around 11 a.m. and waited at the front of my house for the police to arrive so they could personally deliver the notice to her,” he said.
‘The officers and two officers went to give her the notice and were greeted by her at the gate, brandishing an axe.
“She hit the fence with it trying to hit them, so they called more police.”
In the photo: officers on site
The unit has been declared a crime scene, with a neighbor claiming they were asked to leave for a few hours while homicide officers investigate.
An independent critical incident investigation is underway and a report is being prepared for the coroner.
NSW Police will hold a press conference at 10.30am.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.