A 33-year-old man has now been charged with murder in connection to the suspicious highway death of a 27-year-old Queensland woman, who he claimed had “stopped breathing” after their vehicle struck a kangaroo, which the NT Police said they have found no evidence to substantiate.

Police said on Friday morning that the man, who was arrested on Sunday, was charged Thursday night with one count of murder.

NT Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon that police will allege the man assaulted the woman prior to her death. He said police could not find a kangaroo to corroborate the story that the vehicle they were in struck the animal, leading to her death.

Cmmdr Grieve said the 33-year-old man called triple zero at 5:47am Sunday to report that his partner had stopped breathing and needed medical help. He said then that the couple had struck a kangaroo while driving west on the Barkly Highway west of the Barkly Homestead.

He added when paramedics arrived around 8am, the woman was dead and had visible facial injuries. Cmmdr Grieve said “further information” led police to believe the woman had been assaulted by the man around 1:30am. The man also allegedly had injuries.

An autopsy is currently being conducted to determine a preliminary cause of death.

Police said on Wednesday they believe the couple, from the Sunshine Coast, used the grey Jeep Cherokee to drive from Gympie through to the Barkly Homestead between April 1 and April 5, passing through Ban Ban Springs, Emerald, Winton, Cloncurry, Ms Isa and Camooweal.

Police had called on anyone who saw the vehicle or couple, or had dashcam footage, at those locations to contact them or CrimeStoppers NT.

The man is expected to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Friday on the murder charge.

The victim was identified as 27-year-old Christine Marshall Hunter. Her family is fundraising through a GoFundMe page to get her back to Queensland for a funeral and cremation.

If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline 131 114.