Estranged husband shoots wife dead

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

Estranged husband shoots wife dead

A woman who was shot dead by her estranged husband in Sydney's south-west yesterday had taken out an apprehended violence order against him, police said.

Just after 4pm yesterday, John Kudrytch, 39, walked into the BP service station on the Hume Highway at Casula and shot his wife, Melissa Cook, 29, who was working there.

Police arrived shortly after and conducted CPR on the victim until paramedics arrived.

Ms Cook, who had been hit in the chest, was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition but died a short time later after emergency surgery.

Four hours later police found Kudrytch dead inside the couple's former home on Pine Road, just one kilometre down the road from the service station, where he lived.

Police say it appears that he shot himself.

Police have confirmed that Ms Cook had taken out an apprehended violence order against her estranged husband, from whom she was separated and was in the process of divorcing.

A spokesman last night said "domestic violence issues" had come to the attention of police in the past.

It is not yet known when the AVO was granted or what conditions it stipulated.

The murder-suicide was the result of a domestic dispute, police said.

Kudrytch's neighbour Carina Olivos said Ms Cook and Kudrytch had been together for seven or eight years and moved in together three years ago.

Ms Olivos said Ms Cook had told her recently of the couple's separation, saying she was "free" and didn't want anything from Kudrytch, just the chance to "start a new life".