A man and a woman have been arrested in relation to the death of an Indigenous woman whose severed lower leg was found on the side of a road near Darwin.
The grisly discovery was made on the side of the Stuart Highway around 25 kilometres south of Darwin on Tuesday.
After cordoning off the busy highway and establishing a crime scene, investigators ruled the limb belonged to the victim of a hit and run.
A major manhunt led to the arrest of a 23-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, and police have also seized two cars.
At a press conference in Darwin the Head of the Investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey said it's alleged the 23-year-old male was the driver involved in the collision.
“It will be further alleged that the 50-year-old female has assisted him in removing the deceased to another location in an attempt to conceal the crime," he said.
Just before midnight on Wednesday police found the body of an Indigenous woman “partially concealed” on the side of another rural road several kilometres south of the original crash scene.
Police on the scene. Source: NITV
“The condition of the body was consistent with being struck by a vehicle," said Morrissey.
“Police attended a location in Jenkins Road, Virginia, where they located a deceased Aboriginal female. We believe this is the victim of the collision.”
The breakthrough came after police were able to narrow down the car that they believe was involved in the hit and run.
Yesterday afternoon a police patrol in the city of Palmerston south of Darwin identified a vehicle matching the description.
“Investigators attended the residence and after speaking to the 23-year-old male occupant, he was arrested," said Morrissey.
“A car was seized and a search warrant was executed on the property."
That arrest led police to another address in the Darwin industrial suburb of Winnellie. There they arrested a 50-year-old woman and seized another vehicle.
Police have refused to say if the duo are related.
Police on site in Darwin. Source: NITV
While the victim’s age or identity has not been released, police say they have notified family members. An autopsy is expected to be carried out on Thursday.
Police say the pair arrested are expected to be charged with “offences in relation to driving causing death and attempting to pervert the course of justice".
There have been a number of hit and run incidents in the Northern Territory in recent times with police appealing to anyone involved to do the "right thing".
“It’s one thing not to render assistance and report the matter but to go further and attempt to conceal the crime it’s quite terrible.”
