Son charged with elderly mother's murder

Her son was arrested early on Saturday morning at a service station at West Ballina in the northern rivers region, a more than seven-hour drive from Sydney.

The 41-year-old man was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for assessment under police guard before he was transferred to a mental health unit.

He was later charged with murder and breaching an apprehended violence order after an investigation by Liverpool and Homicide Squad detectives.

The man was refused bail to appear in Lismore Local Court on Sunday.

The woman is yet to be formally identified.