Tributes are flowing for a mother who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend in the NSW Hunter Valley.
Rhukaya Lake, 39, was found dead by police in a home in Kearsley, about 155 kilometres north of Sydney, about 7.30pm on Friday.
Lake’s son posted a tribute to social media today, saying his whole family had been “shattered” by the ordeal.
“Forever in our hearts mum, this has absolutely shattered the whole family, it’s never going to be the same without you around,” the tribute read.
“You made some pretty big steps within the last few months and none of it went unnoticed.”
Christopher James McLoughney has been charged with murder after being tracked down to a local bowls club.
Officers say a child raised the alarm after running 400 metres to flag down passers-by following the alleged attack.
Passers-by stopped and called police, who will allege a gun was fired at the property.
Police then made an appeal to the public to find 37-year-old McLoughney, who lived with Lake.
McLoughney was eventually tracked down to Bellbird Park Bowling Club, where he was arrested by police in front of onlookers.
He has been charged with murder, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without holding a licence, permit or authority.
He was refused bail to appear and faced Parramatta Local Court today.
McLoughney did not apply for bail, and he did not speak to the media.
“It’s a tragic incident and nothing that I’m going to say is going to change that,” his lawyer, Osman Samin, said today.
Police seized a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition allegedly found when the vehicle he was in was searched.
A Black Hyundai Tucson, the car McLoughney was found in at the bowling club, has also been seized.
McLoughney and Lake had been in a relationship since June this year, Superintendent Steve Laksa said.
He had lived at the home for years looking after his elderly grandparents, who own the Kearsley property, until they went into care.
Neighbours say Lake had only moved in recently and mostly kept to herself.
1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Help is available from the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
