Brisbane dad, Kerry Rooney allegedly had throat slit after ex wife 'laid wait' in his apartment

Publish date: 2024-08-12

A woman charged with murder after her ex-husband was found dead in the middle of a road allegedly stalked him for two weeks before breaking into his apartment building, spraying him with bleach and slitting his throat.

Bonita Vivien Coue, 53, was arrested at an address in Newmarket in Brisbane’s inner north-west on Wednesday night after allegedly murdering Kerry Michael Rooney.

The couple separated in 2013.

Coue appeared in court on Thursday where the magistrate heard she allegedly caught a bus to Mr Rooney’s apartment armed with a bottle of bleach, two kitchen knives and a toy gun.

The single father-of-one was out with his 10-year-old son when she arrived, so Coue allegedly lied in wait in the staircase of his apartment building.

Bonita Vivien Coue, 53, was arrested at an address in Newmarket in Brisbane's inner north-west on Wednesday night after allegedly murdering Kerry Michael Rooney (pictured)

Bonita Vivien Coue, 53, was arrested at an address in Newmarket in Brisbane's inner north-west on Wednesday night after allegedly murdering Kerry Michael Rooney (pictured)

Bonita Vivien Coue, 53, was arrested at an address in Newmarket in Brisbane’s inner north-west on Wednesday night after allegedly murdering Kerry Michael Rooney (pictured)

The single father-of-one was out with his 10-year-old son when she arrived, so Coue allegedly lied in wait in the staircase of his apartment building. Mr Rooney's son made him a special 'birthday breakfast' (pictured)

The single father-of-one was out with his 10-year-old son when she arrived, so Coue allegedly lied in wait in the staircase of his apartment building. Mr Rooney's son made him a special 'birthday breakfast' (pictured)

The single father-of-one was out with his 10-year-old son when she arrived, so Coue allegedly lied in wait in the staircase of his apartment building. Mr Rooney’s son made him a special ‘birthday breakfast’ (pictured) 

The single father-of-one was reportedly out with his 10-year-old son when she arrived, so Coue allegedly lied in wait in the staircase of his apartment building

The single father-of-one was reportedly out with his 10-year-old son when she arrived, so Coue allegedly lied in wait in the staircase of his apartment building

The single father-of-one was reportedly out with his 10-year-old son when she arrived, so Coue allegedly lied in wait in the staircase of his apartment building

Distraught neighbours arrived home on Thursday to learn of the tragedy in their usually safe neighbourhood

Distraught neighbours arrived home on Thursday to learn of the tragedy in their usually safe neighbourhood

Distraught neighbours arrived home on Thursday to learn of the tragedy in their usually safe neighbourhood

Police arrived at the scene on Wednesday night and remain there on Thursday

Police arrived at the scene on Wednesday night and remain there on Thursday

Police arrived at the scene on Wednesday night and remain there on Thursday

Officers claim she had been watching Mr Rooney, 51, and monitoring his comings and goings for two weeks prior to the alleged attack.

Police will allege Hungarian-born Coue told officers on the scene she sprayed Mr Rooney in the face with pure bleach to get his attention.

When he turned away from her, she allegedly told officers she then stabbed him in the back.

The knife was still lodged in Mr Rooney’s back when officers arrived.

Police will allege Mr Rooney was able to escape and screamed for help as Coue followed him, continuing to stab and cut him.

Coue is also accused of pointing her toy gun at a neighbour who tried to intervene with a baseball bat.

Police will allege Mr Rooney was able to escape and screamed for help as Coue followed him, continuing to stab and cut him

Police will allege Mr Rooney was able to escape and screamed for help as Coue followed him, continuing to stab and cut him

Police will allege Mr Rooney was able to escape and screamed for help as Coue followed him, continuing to stab and cut him 

Detectives collected evidence from the scene of the crime on Thursday morning

Detectives collected evidence from the scene of the crime on Thursday morning

Detectives collected evidence from the scene of the crime on Thursday morning

A woman has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a man to death outside his home in Newmarket in Brisbane's inner north-west. Police are pictured at the scene

A woman has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a man to death outside his home in Newmarket in Brisbane's inner north-west. Police are pictured at the scene

A woman has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a man to death outside his home in Newmarket in Brisbane’s inner north-west. Police are pictured at the scene

Coue was arrested at the scene and was self represented when the matter was mentioned in court on Thursday

Coue was arrested at the scene and was self represented when the matter was mentioned in court on Thursday

Coue was arrested at the scene and was self represented when the matter was mentioned in court on Thursday

She has also been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm relating to allegedly spraying the neighbour with her bottle of bleach.

When Mr Rooney finally fell to the ground in the middle of the street, police allege Coue leaned over the top of him and slit his throat.

Mr Rooney was employed as a test analyst with Queensland’s Department of Education and had previously worked with Queensland Health and the Department of Transport.

Coue was arrested at the scene and was self represented when the matter was mentioned in court on Thursday.

Despite repeated suggestions from the magistrate that she seek free legal aid, Coue said she ‘couldn’t afford’ the service.

She has also been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm relating to allegedly spraying the neighbour with her bottle of bleach

She has also been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm relating to allegedly spraying the neighbour with her bottle of bleach

She has also been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm relating to allegedly spraying the neighbour with her bottle of bleach

Police were seen trawling through bushes as they searched for clues related to the incident

Police were seen trawling through bushes as they searched for clues related to the incident

Police were seen trawling through bushes as they searched for clues related to the incident

‘I can’t afford it… she’s spruiking for business for Legal Aid… the bill comes later,’ Coue said, according to the Courier Mail.

Coue allegedly sat as each of the charges were read to the court before stating: ‘May I say the first charge is true… and the fourth one (going armed as to cause fear) was self defence.’

She is facing one charge of murder, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a further count of going armed as to cause fear.

The matter was adjourned until July 12.

Police arrived at the Newmarket apartment block on Thursday to continue checking for evidence

Police arrived at the Newmarket apartment block on Thursday to continue checking for evidence

Police arrived at the Newmarket apartment block on Thursday to continue checking for evidence

A woman from Kangaroo Point was found at the scene and charged with one count of murder. Police are pictured at the scene

A woman from Kangaroo Point was found at the scene and charged with one count of murder. Police are pictured at the scene

A woman from Kangaroo Point was found at the scene and charged with one count of murder. Police are pictured at the scene 

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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