The boyfriend of a marketing executive who died after partially severing her arm during an alleged argument has been charged with murder six months later.
Claire Austin, 38, reportedly ran through the glass door between a bedroom and sunroom of her Randwick flat in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs on April 12.
The marketing and events consultant, who was from the UK but had been living in Australia for ten years, is believed to have severed an artery during the alleged incident. She died three days later in St Vincent’s Hospital.
Ms Austin was living with partner Lee Robert Loughlin, 44, on the top floor and the couple reportedly had a disagreement when the incident occurred.
Following her death, Loughlin was taken to Maroubra Police Station for questioning before being admitted to a mental health facility for several days.
An Apprehended Violence Order taken out by police on behalf of Ms Austin was dismissed after she died.
However, on Thursday – almost six months after her death – Loughlin was arrested by officers at a home in Little Bay following a police investigation.
He was taken to Maroubra Police Station and charged with domestic violence-related murder and coercive control.
Former couple Claire Austin, 33, and Lee Robert Loughlin, 44, are pictured
The marketing executive (pictured) severed an artery in her arm during an alleged argument with her boyfriend Lee Loughlin and was placed on life support, but died three days later
On Thursday – almost six months after her death – Loughlin was arrested by officers at a home in Little Bay following a police investigation
Ms Austin was living with Loughlin in a top floor Randwick unit in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
Loughlin was refused bail and will appear in court on Friday.
One of the Randwick neighbours who claimed to have heard a row before Ms Austin’s catastrophic injury in April said it had ‘sounded like something wrong would happen’.
‘I heard the woman at first and it worried me. Then I heard the man. I think I heard a crash and then I didn’t hear the woman again,’ he said.
The neighbour added he then heard a man screaming ‘somebody help me’ over and over.
He said after the crashing sound and the woman going quiet, someone had called Triple-Zero and soon after the ambulance and police arrived in the street.
After being told she would not survive her injuries, Ms Austin’s family flew from the UK to Sydney and arrived just hours before she passed away.
Ms Austin had worked at a Sydney marketing company, until the month before she died, when she had moved on to a new media company as an events producer.
Following her death, her former colleagues from her old employer arrived at the apartment block where she had lived, placed flowers and mementos outside and paid tribute to her memory.
Loughlin (pictured) was arrested and charged on Thursday following investigations into Ms Austin’s death
They told the Daily Mail that Ms Austin was ‘a lovely person’ who embraced life and had a large group of friends.
One of the cards left for Ms Austin read: ‘To the sweetest soul, it was an honour to have known you. Your presence is truly missed.
‘Thank you for all your love and support – words can’t describe how painful this is. Rest in peace Claire.’
Ms Austin’s family members were believed to have spent several weeks in Sydney following her death before returning home.
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