Woman arrested in Palau to face attempted murder charges, SA Police says

A woman has been arrested in Palau in relation to an alleged axe attack and shooting in the Adelaide Hills several years ago, police have said.

A man has also been arrested in Brisbane, with SA Police seeking his extradition to South Australia for alleged conspiracy to murder.

According to police, the arrests relate to a violent incident in 2017 in which a man allegedly sustained axe wounds to his neck and was left quadriplegic, while another man allegedly received a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Police said the alleged axe victim was himself charged with attempted murder over the incident but was subsequently acquitted at trial.

An operation to review the case was launched by police’s Major Crime Investigation Branch in 2020.

“Operation Fabula identified evidence that has resulted in a warrant of apprehension being issued in Adelaide for a woman … who resided overseas,” police said in a statement.

The woman’s identity is suppressed, police said.

Police said the woman arrested in Palau has been remanded in custody in the tiny Pacific nation.

“The woman faces charges in South Australia of two counts of attempted murder and two counts of conspiracy to murder,” police said.

“Major Crime detectives and Australian Federal Police officers are continuing to support local police in Palau.”

Police said the arrested man would today appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court where “Major Crime Detectives will seek his extradition to South Australia”.

“As Operation Fabula continues its investigations, further arrests and charges cannot be ruled out,” police said.