Young Kiwi Mother Tara Brown Dies After Ex Partner's Road Rage Attack

Family members have paid tribute to slain mum-of-one Tara Brown on social media.

Ms Brown, 24, died last night of injuries she suffered during a brutal road rage attack on the Gold Coast. Her ex-partner Lionel Patea has been charged with murder.

The pair are both Kiwis but have been living on the Gold Coast.

Ms Brown was rushed to hospital after the attack on Tuesday but her injuries were too severe and she died, surrounded by family last night.

"Our beautiful girl lost her fight tonight, a fight that should have never been," a relative posted on social media.

My heart (is) heavy and filled with anger, words can't even express the pain.

No amount of justice served will bring out beautiful girl back."

Queensland police say the attack on Ms Brown was so brutal that it shocked even the most senior detectives.

The horrific incident occurred at 8.45am on Tuesday. Patea allegedly forced Ms Brown off the road and then viciously assaulted her while still pinned in the car.

Police told the Courier Mail that Patea had followed Ms Brown from a childcare centre, where she was thougth to have dropped off their young daughter.

Tara died from injuries in hospital with family at her side. Photo / Instagram

"It is understood that he was at the centre waiting for her," Detective Inspector Brian Swan said.

"It is believed there were a number of altercations between Nerang and Molendinar where the crash occurred, including a possible physical altercation at a set of traffic lights"

The mother-of-one was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition after being cut from the vehicle with hydraulic equipment.

"At first police thought a paver or brick was used in the alleged attack on the woman but it was a cast iron metal plate that had come loose from a footpath hydrant," Mr Swan told the Courier Mail.

He said the case had affected all officers who attended.

"At first police thought a paver or brick was used in the alleged attack on the woman but it was a cast iron metal plate that had come loose from a footpath hydrant," he alleged.

"I have been a police officer for more than 30 years and this sort of thing still shocks me - it is shocking."

Ms Brown died from her injuries in hospital last night. Members of her family were at her side.

They could not be reached this morning.

Patea is a former Bandido gang sergeant-at-arms. According to Facebook he is from Wanganui but it is understood he has been living in Australia for some time and attended high school on the Gold Coast, where he met Ms Brown.

After the alleged incident on Tuesday Patea was seen to flee the scene in a council vehicle. Police launched a search for him but he later turned himself in at the Coomera Police Station with self-inflicted stab wounds.

"It all happened so quickly we still don't know exactly where the male was when the wounds were inflicted," Mr Swan told the Courier Mail.

He confirmed a knife was found inside the car.

Ms Brown was described as "a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart". Photo / Instagram

Queensland police confirmed a 24-year-old man was initially charged with attempted murder, however, the charge would now be upgraded to murder.

The man was also charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and contravening a domestic violence order.

A special court hearing was held for the man yesterday afternoon at his hospital bedside.
He was remanded in custody and was due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on October 28.

Victim asked police for help after break up

Ms Brown's life support was turned off last night, Perth Now reported. Friends and relatives had flown in from New Zealand to be by the young woman's side, police said.

It has also been reported that Ms Brown had approached police for help in leaving Patea last week, but officers had told her to go elsewhere for help.

Friends said Ms Brown had shown text messages between her and the former partner to officers at Southport Police Station.

Police said the advice given to Ms Brown was under investigation. "There was nothing they [the police] could do about it," a friend of Ms Brown told News Corp.

Another friend told the news website that Ms Brown was a strong and intelligent woman who had wanted to end her relationship with her childhood sweetheart.

"This [breakup] was a long time coming," the woman friend said. "She was a very intelligent, very smart girl."

Tributes flow, funds raised

Ms Brown's friends and family are posting messages of tribute and support on social media.

They have also set up a fundraising page to support her young daughter.

"As we all have seen or heard in some way about the tragic event that has taken place with our beautiful Tara and the effects this has had on her baby girl and extended family is heart breaking," a relative wrote.

"As a small token to show our love and support it would be greatly appreciated if we could all pull together and help raise as much as we can to help support the Brown family at this time. All funds will go directly to the family to support them and help them in whatever way possible. Continue praying for Tara her daughter needs her mummy and her family need her."

Ms Brown was described as "a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart" and a "free spirit with a smile that lights up the room."

Her cousin Samara Coulter wrote: "I am so sorry this has happened, I don't know what to say or what to do but I will always be there for (Ms Brown's daughter) my princess forever".

A school friend who visited Ms Brown in hospital was struggling with the news.

"As news broke late last night that you had passed on, it was hard to believe. As I rubbed your foot yesterday I believed with every bone in my body that you were going to pull through. I prayed like I have never prayed before but God needed you more than me," she posted on Instagram.

"We haven't been close in years but I will never forget all our years as cheeky teenagers. We spoke regularly on Facebook about our children and our new lives. You were so proud of your little girl...I have no words and no answers as to why you were taken so soon. You are loved and you are missed babe."

Chiefs player Tim Nani-Williams has paid tribute to Ms Brown with a photo on Twitter.

"RIP Tara Brown love and support to her family," his post read, and included the hashtag #domesticviolenceisnotok

Local cafes and businesses near Ms Brown's home on the Gold Coast are also collecting donations.

To help the Brown family head to the PrayForTara Gofundme page.

Additional reporting: NZME News Service

- NZ Herald