Updated October 29, 2026 — 5:32pm , first published October 29, 2026 — 8:17am

An apprehended violence order had been taken out to protect a 48-year-old woman before she was allegedly stabbed to death by her defacto partner in the NSW Northern Tablelands.

Vincent Raymond Blair, 53, is in custody charged with the alleged domestic violence murder after being arrested at the Armidale unit complex where the woman was found with multiple stab wounds about 2.15am on Thursday.

The woman was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

An apprehended violence order had been in place for her protection and a compliance check had been conducted about a month earlier, police sources said.

Blair did not apply for bail in court on Thursday and it was formally refused.…