A man charged with murdering his mother in their northern beaches home had suffered from mental health problems, her partner said.Â
Police found the body of popular hairdresser Lanell Latta, 50, on Monday morning in a beachfront home at Avalon that she had rented from supermodel Gemma Ward.
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Man charged with murdering his own mother
Police are investigating whether drugs may have been a factor in the Avalon tragedy on Sydney's northern beaches. Vision courtesy Seven Sunrise.
Ms Latta's son Joel Woszatka, 25, was arrested on Ruskin Rowe, several streets over from the Marine Parade address he had shared with his brother, Ms Latta and her partner Geoff Robson-Scott.Â
Speaking to reporters outside their home on Tuesday, Mr Robson-Scott, 60, said "she had a lot of trouble with her youngest son, he had a number of mental health issues."Â
Mr Woszatka allegedly assaulted Mr Robson-Scott during a violent struggle, occasioning actual bodily harm. While Mr Robson-Scott said "I saw it, I was there" he did not elaborate on what happened to Ms Latta, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.Â
"She was beautiful in spirit, the kindest person I have ever known, so loving," he said, his face swollen and bruised. Â
"It's just such a huge tragedy that's happened here. There are no words, it's just a shattering thing."
The couple had been together for about two years, he said, indicating he would now move away from the property.Â
Mr Woszatka did not apply for bail in Manly Local Court on Tuesday morning and it was formally refused. A charge sheet said the alleged violence occurred between 10.20am and 11.07am before the accused was apprehended at 11.30am.
A lawyer indicated Mr Woszatka was not consenting to a forensic procedure requested by police, who will now have to formally apply in a court hearing later this month for permission to conduct it.
While the court was not told of the nature of the procedure, the governing legislation refers to the sampling of body matter such as blood and hair.Â
Friends mourned Ms Latta on social media on Monday, describing her as a "beautiful soul".Â
Childhood friend Kylie Kerr-Dawkins wrote: "RIP. Dear Lanell Latta, I had some great times as a teenage girl hanging with this lovely lady."
Leanne Kellett wrote: "Another angel leaves us way too soon. Forever in our hearts and memories."
Ward, the model and actress who last year purchased the $1.6 million Marine Parade property Ms Latta rented, said the incident was "heartbreaking".
"My heart goes out to the family and all involved in this tragedy."
The daughter of the late surfer and board maker Frank Latta, Ms Latta had raised her family on the northern beaches, sending her children to Barrenjoey High School in Avalon.
Mr Woszatka is due to appear in Central Local Court on September 26 via audio-visual link.Â