Cape calm after death

Extra police also deal with king hit and bad car crash

THE eastern Cape York community of Lockhart River is calm despite a spate of violence and tragedy in the past week.

Extra police helped maintain order in the town after the arrest of Christabel Solomon, 26, for the alleged stabbing murder of her partner during a domestic row.

She appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday via video from Lockhart River charged with murder as a domestic offence.

No application for bail was made and she remains in custody.

The police presence in Lockhart River has more than doubled since the alleged stabbing – two extra detectives, two uniformed officers and two forensic experts have flown to the community to bolster those posted to the eastern Cape York town.

Police have alleged that Ms Solomon stabbed the 25-yearold man in the torso at 1pm on Tuesday.

Lockhart River police and medicos from the Royal Flying Doctor Service worked in vain to save him.

“Sadly, he passed away,” Det Insp Smith said.

She confirmed that both the man and Ms Solomon were local to Lockhart River and were involved in a domestic relationship.

“It has been a difficult time for Lockhart River,” Det Insp Smith said.

“We are supporting them as much as we can.”

She said the town has remained calm in the wake of the man’s death and unrelated incidents including an alleged king hit that left Solomon Lancaster Accoom in a coma and a traffic crash involving five juveniles.

“The additional staff have helped with that healing process,” Det Insp Smith said.

The 14-year-old driver of the crashed car and Mr Accoom remain in critical but stable conditions in Townsville Hospital.

Det Insp Smith said police would remove Ms Solomon from Lockhart River as her case proceeded through the courts.

Ms Solomon’s matter has been adjourned for committal mention on November 27.