The widow of a Kiwi firefighter who was believed to have died in a hit-and-run in New South Wales says she's horrified to learn he actually survived but was later allegedly beaten to death.
Ian Pullen, 43, was in the Hunter region north of Sydney helping fight the bushfires in September 2018. Late one night when he returned to his accommodation, he was struck by a vehicle.
Police arrested and charged 29-year-old Joshua Knight earlier in October, and on Tuesday his 30-year-old passenger Nicole Mason also appeared in court facing a murder charge.
Hunter Valley District crime manager Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer told Newshub the vehicle returned to the scene "a short time" after striking Pullen.
"At that time, the male and female exited the car approached Mr Pullen while he was still alive, and struck him in the head with an object."
Knight and Mason had the chance to help, but police say instead they inflicted blunt force trauma.
The weapon is still to be identified.
The Waikato pilot and father of three put his life on hold each year to travel to Australia to help fight the bushfires.
His widow Vicki Pullen said the new allegations are "horrible".
"What we thought was a hit-and-run is now being treated as murder with a blunt object. I almost said at the start I feel sorry for the driver, but not now."
Police said there is no evidence to suggest there was ever any interaction between the two parties prior to Pullen being struck by the vehicle.
"You don't want to think about what they've done and I know myself I'm still trying to deal with looking after my children and supporting them," Pullen said. "But having to deal with what these people allegedly got out and did. It is disgusting."
But she said she's grateful police in Australia never gave up and followed every lead.
"They're amazing that team. To do what they've done these past two years to get to where we are today is amazing. I've said it before and I'll say it again - they went over and above."
Both of the accused have now been denied bail to reappear in court next month, while Ian Pullen's family is denied a life with him.
