Street in mourning
Community struggles to come to terms with mum’s murder
AS their father faced court accused of the brutal murder of their mother, Kym Cobby’s three children were at home, coming to terms with the unimaginable loss.
Throughout the day relatives, friends and wellwishers streamed through the gates of the rural Worongary home.
Inside, Ms Cobby’s three children, mother, sister and brother-in-law pulled together, struggling to cope with the loss, allegedly at the hands of her estranged husband, Andrew Cobby.
On Monday the street was a crime scene, filled with forensic officers, police tape, detectives and television crews.
Yesterday the leafy street was quiet, besides the sobs of those who laid bouquets near where Ms Cobby’s body was found.
Brother-in-law Craig Eden told the Bulletin he had not turned on the news since the tragedy. He said his family members wanted space as they came to terms with Ms Cobby’s death, which police have described as ‘brutal’.
Independent political candidate for Broadwater Ron Nightingale was among the wellwishers who delivered flowers to Ms Cobby’s mother, Olwyn.
“She’s in a terrible mess,” he said.
“When she saw the flowers she just broke down in tears.
“Luckily she has support from other family members.
“I’ve made deliveries to Tara Brown’s family ... it never ever changes.”
Neighbour and mother-ofthree, Charlene Day, said the death was “absolutely the most shocking thing to ever happen” in Worongary in over two decades.
“I’m a mum of three, like Kym was, so I woke up to a lot of worried calls from friends,” she said.
“Nobody on the street can believe this has happened ... it’s such a nice area.
“My 15-year-old son heard her screaming that night, and he’s had to make a statement to police.
“He’s still coping with it ... he said to me ‘I can’t help thinking that I was the last person to hear her scream’.”
Another neighbour was seen bringing the family’s bins inside – a small gesture to help the grieving family. He said the whole street was in mourning.
Ms Cobby, 51, a long-time Coast local, attended the nowdemolished Star of the Sea Catholic College at Southport.
Former classmate Trish Kemp was “devastated”.
“I’m still in shock ... I last saw her about three years ago,” she said.
“She wasn’t big on Facebook, though I had a friend request from her a few weeks ago. She was very quiet and a lovely person.”
Detective Inspector Marc Hogan, head of the Gold Coast police Domestic Violence Taskforce, said yesterday police were still awaiting post-mortem results to officially confirm the cause of Ms Cobby’s death.
Mr Hogan said Mr Cobby had given police a version of events, but Mr Hogan would not go into detail.
“We are trying to look at what they were both involved in, it’s just a matter of nutting that all out now,” he said.
Mr Cobby has been remanded in custody after appearing in Southport Court yesterday morning.
The 55-year-old sat in the dock, wearing a checkered gown and showed no emotion during the brief mention.
He did not apply for bail and Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan adjourned the matter until December 7.