I DID NOTHING WR0-NG, ACCUSED TAXI DRIVER DECLARES IN SH0CK COURT APPEARANCE AS JANA ARMSTRONG’S GRIEVING FAMILY STANDS UNITED, HOLDING BACK TEARS WHILE CALLING FOR JUSTICE
The family of a young mother allegedly murdered by her former partner paid tribute to her on Monday, saying all she wanted was to be a mother.
Jana Armstrong, 30, was reported missing by concerned family members after she failed to return home to her four-month-old baby boy in Toowoomba on Tuesday, July 7.
“She always wanted to be a mum, that was her dream,” Ms Armstrong’s sister Faith Isaacs said outside Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday.
“To only spend four short months with him … she lived every day, every minute with her son.
“She was never away from him, she was just the most caring and loving person.
“She was our rock.”
In their search for Ms Armstrong, her family rallied the community to help find the missing mother, who last met with her sister on Tuesday for coffee at a nearby cafe.
Ms Armstrong’s car was found parked, unlocked in the middle of the road near her Newtown home on Wednesday, but the new mother was nowhere to be found.
Jana Armstrong was last seen alive at her Newtown unit in Toowoomba on July 7. Picture: Contributed
Dharminder Singh, former partner of Ms Armstrong and the father of her baby, has been charged with her murder. Picture: 7News
The car was reportedly spotted driving near to 100 times up and down the street in the days before she disappeared.
On Saturday night, a group of pig hunters found a body, nearly an hour away at Redbank Creek on Esk Hampton Rd, police believed to be that of Ms Armstrong.
On Monday, her former partner and father to her child Dharminder Singh, 48, appeared via a video link from the Toowoomba Magistrates Court watch house, charged with her domestic violence murder.
Police arrested Mr Singh on Sunday morning, finding him in a bare room sleeping in a Led Zeppelin shirt and Puma tracksuit pants. Picture: QPS
The Indian-born taxi driver was jointly charged with arson of a motor vehicle (domestic violence) and breaching bail.
Lining the public gallery were Ms Armstrong’s family, friends and supporters.
Observers packed inside, two to a seat and more standing in the aisle.
“I know that, this is what Jana would want us to do,” Ms Isaac said outside court.
“I am so thankful the family were there to support us.
Ms Armstrong’s sister Faith Isaacs supported by her husband and Ms Armstrong’s baby boy. Picture: NewsWire/ Kate Stephenson
“My body is just full of so much adrenaline.
“The boys are the reasons why we getting out of bed and Jana she needs justice.
“That’s what we’re here for,” she said.
Ms Armstrong’s disappearance and death was felt deeply by the regional Queensland community, many residents choosing to leave their porch lights on overnight in respect of the young mother and her family.
“I want to say a huge thanks to the police, the SES, the detectives, you guys (gesturing to media), the community, and the pig hunters that found Jana and brought her home so now we can lay her to rest with the dignity she deserves,” Ms Isaacs said.
“I’ve had thousands of messages, my phone is just blowing up … it is keeping us going.”
Ms Armstrong’s cousins were among those at the court hearing on Monday. Picture: John Gass.
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Ms Isaacs, who has been looking after Ms Armstrong’s baby son said she was “glad he was in their arms”, and felt a “weight lifted” when she heard of Mr Singh’s arrest.
“There needs to be more done around DV,” she said.
“It is disgusting how many women have died already this year from DV.
“The government, they need to do more.”
Singh was dressed in prison greens, his head slumped in his hands as the court proceedings began.
His solicitor Ramli Salehkon said police would need a long adjournment to allow for a brief to be delivered to the defence.
No plea was entered, however, outside court, Mr Salehkon said Mr Singh denied the charges against him.
“It is a distressing time for everyone,” Mr Salehkon said.
“He is OK, he is quite distressed.
Ms Armstrong was last seen alive early last week after having coffee with her sister and baby. Picture: Supplied
“My client has co-operated with police investigation … (he) asserts his innocence, this matter will be defended.
“My client has rights, I ask that people respect my client’s family and his loved ones in this difficult time.”
Singh’s mention was adjourned to October 1, with a brief of evidence to be supplied by police to the defence by September 14.
He was remanded in custody awaiting his next court date.
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Community in mourning
Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald and regional domestic violence support group Protea Place chief executive Amanda Dalton spoke on Monday afternoon following Ms Armstrong’s death.
“The last 24-30 hours for our region is one that we would hate to have to ever revisit again,” Mr McDonald said.
“This is a tragedy, an absolute travesty for a family, a four-month-old will never meet and be with their mother.
“The loss of one of our loved people in our community, Jana, to her and her family and friends this has been an absolute tragedy.
“We will do all that we can to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
While the criminal case in relation to Ms Armstrong’s death was before the courts, Ms Dalton said generally that the allegations were a reminder of the impact that domestic violence had on the wider community.
“It’s a time where as a community we come together again,” Ms Dalton said.
“It does feel like we are having to do this too often.
“We are sick and tired of it.
Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald and domestic violence support service Protea Place chief executive Amanda Dalton spoke on the death of the young mother. Picture: NewsWire/ Kate Stephenson
“Toowoomba is thrust into the limelight again for something we wish it wasn’t.
“We have a responsibility to respond to it the best we can.
“What we can do is channel that frustration and anger into the continued efforts of raising awareness.
“The education and awareness is working, it can feel like we are getting nowhere fast, but it is working.
“We know that many, many hundreds of women … were reminded of and thankful they are safe and how close I guess it could have been for them.”
The pair implored the community to stand by Ms Armstrong’s family, offering support through their GoFundMe fundraiser and honouring the young mother.
“Our focus in the next little while particularly is to wrap our arms around Jana’s family,” Mr McDonald said.
“Whatever we can do as a community we will do that.
“Our community is a beautiful community, we care for each other that will never change.
“I would like to think, and I’m sure it’s the case, the Toowoomba region is known for its compassion, its caring nature, its empathetic approach and the way we wrap our arms around each other – that is what Toowoomba is about.”
SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/courts-law/former-partner-of-jana-armstrong-charged-with-her-alleged-murder/news-story/8a757dba9f7586fbabb2025b1a1893cf
