A man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead at a home in the NSW Hunter Valley on Friday.
Rhukaya Lake, 39, was found dead by police in a home in Kearsley, about 155 kilometres north of Sydney, about 7.30pm.
Officers say a child raised the alarm after running 400 metres to flag down passersby following the alleged attack.
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Passers-by stopped and called police.
Police alleged a gun was fired at the property.
Police then made an appeal to the public to find 37-year-old Christopher James McLoughney, who lived with Lake.
A 37-year-old man was arrested yesterday.
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 before Parramatta Local Court today.
Police seized a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition allegedly found when the vehicle he was in was searched.
A Black Hyundai Tucson has also been seized.
McLoughney and Lake had been in a relationship since June this year, 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.
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Help is available from the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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