Tasmania Police Northern detectives investigated five suspected murders within seven months – between October last year and April.
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The first allegedly involved a 45-year-old man who was found dead on his property at Lottah in October.
Police alleged the man was shot after a dispute with a neighbour and a 65-year-old man was charged with murder.
The following month, Newnham man Aaron Matthew Monaco was allegedly stabbed to death in his home.
A 39-year-old Ravenswood woman and 32-year-old Newnham man were taken into custody and charged with murder.
In December, a 35-year-old Prospect man was charged after a 56-year-old man was found dead at his Summerhill home. Police alleged the victim suffered “significant injuries” to his head and upper body during an altercation.
The fourth case arose after the body of missing Mowbray man Bradley Breward was found at Lake Eugenana on the North-West in February.
Mr Breward had been missing since New Year’s Eve.
Twenty-five-year-old Ricky John Izard, of South Launceston, and 41-year-old Mark Rodney Jones, of West Launceston, were charged over Mr Breward’s alleged murder. Police alleged the 22-year-old victim had been bashed, suffocated with a plastic bag and dumped in the lake.
The latest investigation involved another missing man, Tyson Timothy Clark-Robertson. Three people were charged after his body was found in a shallow grave at Mayfield in April.
Northern Commander Brett Smith said while the number of suspected murder cases was “unusual”, there was no need for public concern. “The public in general are in no greater risk than they would be on any other given day,” he said.
“Without commenting on individual matters that are before the courts, in all of the cases in the North, police will allege the persons charged were known to the victim.”
Commander Smith said all investigations had involved “swift” police responses. “Once police became involved, we committed the necessary resources in order to get the best outcome for the victim’s family,” he said.
“It’s very difficult from a policing perspective to minimise the chances of these types of serious crime. We do make every endeavor when these incidents occur to bring about a resolution in a very timely manner.”
In addition to the five alleged murders investigated in the Northern district, there have been five others across the state within the past 12 months, including missing Hobart man Dwayne Davies, whose body was found buried on a property earlier this month.