Three Women Killed In NSW Domestic Violence Tragedies In 24 Hours

Over the weekend, three women were tragically killed in separate suspected domestic violence-related incidents across New South Wales, with three men subsequently charged with their murders.

The deaths epitomise Australia’s mounting domestic violence crisis, begging the question: How is the government protecting women, and what else can be done to prevent such tragedies?

One of the victims, a grandmother, was allegedly stabbed 19 times in her Bondi home by her grandson, Sergei Mitnik, who appeared before the Local Court on Sunday and was charged with murder.

The 47-year-old has reportedly claimed that Ozempic, which he has been taking for approximately two months, affected his mental state and contributed to the alleged offence. According to Nine, Mitnik’s grandmother, remembered by neighbours as a “gentle soul”, was found with significant stab wounds at approximately 5.15pm on Saturday, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hours prior, another woman, a 23-year-old, was allegedly murdered inside a home in southwest NSW. A 31-year-old man, Adam Mark Perrim, has been charged in connection with her death. Police believe the pair were in a domestic relationship.

Later that evening, the body of another woman, a 70-year-old, was discovered at Mole River, in NSW’s Northern Tablelands region, following reports of a domestic violence incident. A 37-year-old man was taken into custody and has since been charged with murder. Police will allege in court that the man and woman were known to one another.

The three deaths spotlight the devastating reality of domestic and family violence in Australia, where women continue to be killed by men known to them, including within their own homes.

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NSW Premier Chris Minns said his thoughts were with the families and communities of the three women.

“These are shocking crimes and families are today dealing with unimaginable grief,” he said.

NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane also noted that while “these matters are before the courts,” and that she couldn’t comment on the circumstances, she said Australia was “failing women across our country and every level of government, and every one of us, has a responsibility to act”.

She continued, “These deaths are not isolated. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, a woman was killed every 11 days in 2024-25 by her intimate partner. Even more women lose their lives when you include other family members. Women of every age, from a 23-year-old to a woman in her 90s, are still not safe in their own homes.”

Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon, a domestic and family violence expert and chair of Respect Victoria, has also emphasised the need for a more comprehensive response to the crisis. Speaking to ABC News, she said: “Sentencing alone will not stop these crimes from occurring. So what we absolutely need of any government is also a commitment in the same full rigour to early intervention and prevention, because we will not arrest and sentence our way out of men’s violence against women.”

With the AFL and NRL grand finals fast approaching, the need for robust, preventative measures is more urgent than ever. Australian non-profit Our Watch has reported that, on AFL Grand Final day, Victoria Police prepare for a 20% increase in violence against women.

On State of Origin nights, domestic assaults in New South Wales increase by up to 40%.