Man faces court charged with murdering his partner

In the back row of the court room sat a grieving daughter, a woman who had lost her mother and potentially would lose her father in the same tragic event. 

Desmond Booth appeared before Darwin Local Court on Thursday charged with the murder of his 43-year-old partner on Tuesday night in Darwin’s northern suburb of Malak. 

The 57-year-old Warumungu and Arrernte man was in a relationship with the mother, who was staying at their daughter's house in Malak. 

He has been remanded in custody and did not seek bail.

The daughter spoke to AAP outside court and said she came home to find her mother deceased.

Witnesses had seen a woman sitting on the kerb crying outside the house on the Tuesday night prior to emergency services arriving. 

"Yes that was me. I called them police. I was the one crying," she said. 

On Wednesday NT Police said they were notified that a 43-year-old woman was dead just after midnight.

However, they could not confirm if a weapon was involved or how the woman died stating they were still in "preliminary investigations".

The matter is adjourned until October 16.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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