The alleged daylight homicide of a much-loved mother and businesswoman in Darwin's northern suburbs has sent shockwaves through the local community.
Sheena Fairfield, 39, was the co-owner of Territory Butchers, a long-standing family business within the Hibiscus Shopping Centre in Leanyer.
On Thursday, Ms Fairfield was found dead in her suburban front garden by her husband, Mick Fairfield, with multiple injuries police said were "caused by a sharp-edged type weapon".
A 56-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning at a home in Palmerston, about 15 kilometres away from the crime scene.
NT Police have not yet charged the man, who remains in Royal Darwin Hospital under police guard with injuries police believe to be self-inflicted.
Police have said the alleged offender was known to Ms Fairfield but the pair were not related.
Multiple neighbours told the ABC that Ms Fairfield had lived in the home where the alleged attack took place with her husband and daughter for less than 12 months, describing them as a quiet, happy family.
Husband shares tribute
Coming to terms with the tragedy, Mr Fairfield today offered a heartfelt tribute to his wife.
"[She was] very loving and caring to all people, even the grumpy ones," he told the ABC.
"So many people would just attach to her, all she had to do is smile.
"Her smile won me over that's for sure. The smile wins my heart."
Business owners in the tight-knit Hibiscus Shopping Centre community, where Ms Fairfield worked, said they've been rocked by the incident.
Robyn Wright, the owner of Leanyer Newsagency, said it had been "a terrible shock to everyone in the centre".
"We all knew her so well," she said through tears.
"Sheena was lovely, she was a very bright and happy young lady.
"She had a beautiful little girl, a lovely husband, and ran a very good business."
Loved by regular customers
Many in the shopping centre were close to Ms Fairfield, who was known as the friendly face at the butchers and a frequent customer of other businesses in the complex.
Among them was Nelson Acuna, the owner of Fresh Cuisine café.
"We're really shocked and sad, she was a good person," Mr Acuna said.
"My staff are very shocked that this could've happened so suddenly.
"She was a very outgoing person, she's very friendly.
"Even though, as I know, being as a business owner is very stressful, you could never tell in her face that she was stressed — she was always smiling."
Nadia Willcocks, from Estelle's Florist, said the community wanted to rally around Ms Fairfield's family and staff.
"This is a really close community, a lot of regulars, a lot of elderly, we all know each other, it's really worrying," Ms Willcocks said.
"She was so lovely, she worked hard too … she would bring her daughter every day for lunch and they'd have lunch together, and it's just really horrible.
"I hope if there's anything we can do for them, if they say so … everyone's really just trying to be there for them as much as they can."
