UPDATE:
The former partner of Bundeena woman Tina Kontozis will face court today charged with her murder.
Stephen Boyd, 51, had prior convictions for breaching an apprehended violence order and for violent offences committed against his partner and son, an extradition hearing was told on Thursday.
Police found Ms Kontozis, 51, dead in her Beachcomber Avenue home after being alerted by neighbours who heard fighting and screaming about 3.30pm on Sunday.
A much-loved resident of the tight-knit southern Sydney village, Ms Kontozis worked at the local day care centre.
She had allegedly been beaten to death. A 17-year-old youth injured in the attack was taken to hospital.
Mr Boyd was arrested at the ACT town of Braidwood the next day after an extensive manhunt. He broke his jaw and suffered a neck injury when his car hit an embankment following a police pursuit. He was treated at Queanbeyan and Canberra hospitals under police guard.
The accused killer wore a neck brace and green tracksuit when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon. He rubbed his eyes and sighed deeply as he waited for his case to come before Magistrate Karen Fryar.
NSW police sought his extradition on a warrant for charges including Ms Kontozis's murder, assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and breaching an apprehended domestic violence order.
Questioned by prosecutor Shane Drumgold, Detective Sergeant Belinda Abdy, of Sutherland Local Area Command, told the court Mr Boyd had prior convictions for breaching the protection order and for violent offences committed against his partner and son.
Mr Drumgold said there were concerns Mr Boyd would fail to appear at court, given the difficulty police had in apprehending him, and could commit further offences if he was released from custody.
After Ms Fryar granted the extradition request, Mr Boyd was taken to Queanbeyan Police Station and charged with murder, assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and contravene apprehended domestic violence order.
He was formally refused bail and will appear before Queanbeyan Local Court today.
EARLIER:
A man has appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court this afternoon and is in the process of being extradited to NSW following the death of a woman at Bundeena on the weekend.
Stephen Boyd, 51, was remanded into the custody of NSW Police Force detectives by virtue of a NSW arrest warrant about 2.30pm today.
He is currently being extradited to NSW where he is expected to be charged with the murder of his partner and other offences.
About 3.30pm on Sunday emergency services were called to a home on Beachcomber Avenue, Bundeena, where they located the body of 51-year-old Tina Kontozis.
Police also located her 17-year-old son who had an injured arm. He was taken to Sutherland Hospital for treatment.
Officers from Sutherland Local Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad launched an investigation into the incident.
About 5pm on Monday, Boyd was arrested on Wallace Street, Braidwood, following a pursuit with police.
He was taken to Queanbeyan Police Station before being transported to Queanbeyan Hospital for treatment of a broken jaw and a neck injury.
He was later taken to Canberra Hospital for specialised treatment of these injuries and held under police guard.
More than 150 Bundeena locals gathered on Jibbon Beach on Monday evening in a moving candlelit vigil celebrating the life of Ms Kontozis.
"Tonight is Tina's night and all about love and laughing," said local Chrissie McCann, one of the organisers of the gathering. "We are bigger than what has happened and we will overcome this."
As forensic officers gathered evidence from the home on Monday, those affected by Ms Kontozis's death left bouquets of flowers by the police tape cordoning off the street.
"RIP Tina, a beautiful flower cut down too soon", one card read. Handpicked flowers were also left outside the Goanna Patch Kindergarten, where Ms Kontozis cared for a generation of Bundeena's children.
A neighbour, Michael Vink, said the small community had been shocked by the violence, and saddened by the death of a popular resident.
"I don't think you would find anybody that had a bad word to say about Tina," he said. "She was delightful. We have a nine-year-old daughter who was taught by her at the preschool, as were so many children in the town.
"She always remembered every child by name and always had a kind word and a smile."
Detective Chief Inspector Terry O'Neill, the Sutherland Local Area Command Crime Manager, said Mr Boyd was known to police, but would not comment on whether there was a history of domestic violence in the case.
