John Torney: Tattooed man, 39, is charged with a string of offenses after his neighbour Emma Bates was found dead inside a home in small town Victoria

A man with the word ‘hate’ tattooed on his knuckles has been charged with a raft of assault offences after a woman was found dead in her home in rural Victoria. 

Emma Bates, 49, was found dead inside her Cobram home, close to the NSW border in Victoria’s far north, around 2.15pm on Tuesday, having suffered injuries to her upper-body and face.

She is the 26th women to be killed in Australia this year as the nation grapples with a violence-against-women epidemic.

Police revealed on Wednesday evening charged tattooed John Torney with a range of offences over Ms Bates’ death. 

‘A 39-year-old Cobram man has been charged with intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, common law assault, aggravated assault of a female and unlawful assault,’ a spokesperson for Victoria Police said. 

Ms Bates was discovered deceased inside her home (pictured) on Tuesday afternoon

It’s understood Torney and Ms Bates had recently struck up a relationship. 

Torney – who has the word HATE tattooed on his left hand – is expected to face an out of sessions court hearing on Thursday evening.

Police will seek to remand him before he faces Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

A team of detectives and forensic officers were seen scouring Ms Bates’ home for evidence and speaking to neighbours on Wednesday as part of the investigation. 

As police trailed in and out of the front door, a wheelchair, cat scratching post tower, and exercise bike could be seen sitting abandoned Ms Bates’ undercover car park. 

A wheelchair and cat scratching post could be seen sitting unattended in Ms Bates driveway as forensic officers scoured the property on Wednesday afternoon

Friend Kylie Mizzi, whose parents lived next door to Ms Bates for many years, told Daily Mail Australia she was a ‘beautiful soul’.

‘She always helped my elderly parents and had a huge heart, was warm and loving,’ she said.

‘I’m in total shock that something like this could happen to such a beautiful soul. ‘

Ms Bates’ family members were too upset to speak on Thursday evening.