Three men have been charged with domestic violence-related murders after three women died in separate incidents during a horror 12-hour period in New South Wales.

A 23-year-old woman was unable to be saved after being found with fatal stab wounds inside a home in Wagga Wagga, in south-west NSW, about 11.45am on Saturday.

A 31-year-old man was arrested almost nine hours later at another home in the regional city and was later charged with murder, police confirmed on Sunday.

The pair were in a relationship, investigators said.

On Saturday afternoon, an elderly woman was found with stab wounds inside her unit at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

A 47-year-old man was arrested after police were called to the unit at about 5.15pm.

Paramedics treated the woman, aged in her 90s, but she died at the scene.

Eastern suburbs police area commander, Jodi Radmore said there were “significant stab wounds” to the woman’s torso and a number of items were seized at the scene “to see if they are the [alleged] murder weapon”.

She said the man was “cooperative with police at the scene” on Saturday and had undergone forensic examinations and interviews overnight.

The man was charged with domestic violence-related murder and refused bail.

On Saturday evening the body of a woman in her 70s was found at Mole River in the state’s north.

Police were called to reports of a domestic violence incident in the regional district at about 9.35pm.

Investigators believe a 37-year-old man entered a property and tried to steal a vehicle before assaulting a 74-year-old male resident.

The younger man was arrested and police then went on to search the neighbouring property where they found the body of a woman in her 70s, who is yet to be formally identified.

Part of the house was damaged by fire, police said.

The 37-year-old man – who was taken to Tenterfield police station – was charged with murder on Sunday.

Police will allege in court the 37-year-old and 70-year-old were known to each other.

He was refused bail to appear before court on Monday.

In a statement on Sunday, the NSW opposition leader, Kellie Sloane, said she was “horrified” by the deaths.

“These deaths are not isolated. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, a woman was killed every 11 days in 2024-25 by her intimate partner. Even more women lose their lives when you include other family members,” she said.

“Women of every age, from a 23-year-old to a woman in her 90s, are still not safe in their own homes.

“Because these matters are before the courts, I won’t comment on the circumstances. But we cannot treat this as background noise. We are failing women across our country and every level of government, and every one of us, has a responsibility to act.”

The premier, Chris Minns, said “these are shocking crimes and families are today dealing with unimaginable grief”.

“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the women who have died, and the communities affected by these events,” he said.