Inverell Local Court: Magistrate declares Neville Michell dead; withdraws four charges and AVO against him

Neville Michell had four charges from a previous alleged assault and an AVO scheduled for Inverell Local Court on Thursday, the day after his wife was stabbed to death and their daughter left critically injured.

Michell was later found dead at a different house.

In court on Thursday, magistrate Michael Antrum formally withdrew the charges against him - intentional choking, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two counts of common assault, as well as an AVO taken out to protect his wife, Michelle Michell.

Mrs Michell, 50, died from stab wounds at a property on the Gwydir Highway at Inverell, in northern NSW, just after 2am on Wednesday. Their 21-year-old daughter, Jennifer, who was also allegedly stabbed by Michell, was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital.

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Michell's body was found at another property on the outskirts of town and police have confirmed that his death was not being treated as suspicious. The magistrate said Michell had taken his own life after "allegedly committing an act of harm".

Mr Antrum expressed sympathies to the family, friends and others in the Northern Tablelands community left devastated by the murder-suicide.

"The Inverell community has experienced a horrible incident," he said. "The community is undoubtedly very distressed about it."

Thursday was the first time that the matters, which occurred in June, were due to come before the court.

"The court does express condolences to all those who knew the parties," said the magistrate, who also appealed for the community to assist the police with their "very distressing inquiries".

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

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