The man accused of murdering his ex-wife in an alleged horror car crash in 2023 has been found dead in hospital.
Sky News host Chris Kenny has backed calls for stronger bail reforms in a bid to protect potential victims of domestic violence and knife crime.
It follows a four-day NSW Police operation from Wednesday to Saturday, which led to the arrest of 554 people and 1,070 charges laid for domestic and family violence offences.
“We can have all the law changes we like and all the police crackdowns, but until we get serious about refusing bail when anyone is accused of threatening behaviour or threatening with a weapon, then potential victims are going to be left exposed,” Mr Kenny said.
Troy Andrew Armstrong, 35, was charged with murder of his ex-wife Kristy Armstrong and two counts of attempted murder relating to the passengers in the car after he allegedly sped his ute toward her sedan at 140km/h in the NSW town of Molong on 9 June 2023.
In a statement released to SkyNews.com.au on Thursday, Corrective Services NSW confirmed Armstrong was on Tuesday found unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in Silverwater, 21 km west of Sydney’s CBD.
“The inmate was immediately given first aid and taken to hospital but was pronounced deceased,” a department spokeswoman said.
“As a matter of protocol, Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police investigate all deaths in custody regardless of the circumstances.”
A man accused of murdering his estranged wife by allegedly forcibly crashing his car into hers in the New South Wales central west has died in hospital. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard
SkyNews.com.au contacted NSW Police for comment.
Emergency services were called to Speedy St in Molong, 35km from Orange, following reports of a crash involving a ute and a sedan in June, 2023.
It’s understood two passengers were travelling in the sedan driven by Ms Armstrong at the time of the incident.
Mr Armstrong’s ute was severely damaged, with Fire and Rescue NSW having to extract him from the car.
Paramedics at the scene treated the 35-year-old’s injuries before rushing him to St Leonard’s Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.