New Zealand firefighter and helicopter pilot Ian Pullen was found dead on the side of a Hunter Valley road, on Monday a second person was charged over his murder.
Ian Pullen was in the Hunter to help with bushfire season when his body was found next to Carrington Street at Glenridding - near Singleton - just after 5.30am on September 29, 2018.
The pilot had been the apparent victim of a hit-and-run, police said at the time. Now detectives believe he was first hit by a white Toyota Hilux utility which fled the area, before the vehicle returned to the scene and two people got out of the car striking Mr Pullen in the head with an object.
Last week police charged 29-year-old Singleton man Joshua Knight with murder, dangerous driving occasioning death and failing to stop after a vehicle's impact had caused death.
After further inquiries, police attended a home on Dominion Avenue, Singleton, and arrested a 30-year-old woman about 9am Monday.
She was taken to Singleton police station before being taken to Singleton Hospital under police guard for an existing injury. She later returned to the police station and was charged with murder.
Read more: Public appeal as police comb crime scene after hit and run near Singleton
The woman was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday.
Investigations into the murder under Strike Force Awabakil are ongoing.
The father of three lived with his wife Vicki and their youngest child near Taumarunui, in the central part of New Zealand's North Island, before he died.
Mr Pullen had spent a lot of time working as a pilot across Australia during his career - he and Mrs Pullen had spent about nine years living in the country.
