Man faces court over death of Qld woman

A Queensland man in his 70s has been charged with torture and manslaughter after a woman died in hospital last year.

The 73-year-old man faced court on Monday over the death of the 66-year-old woman at the Hervey Bay Hospital on November 9, 2017.

He was arrested at his home on Sunday and charged with one count each of manslaughter, unlawful striking causing death, torture and deprivation of liberty.

He was also charged with a number of assault and rape offences.

He appeared in the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Monday and remanded to appear on January 31.

Outside court, Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Lowry said the man and woman were known to each other and that several of the charges related to incidents before November 9.

He did not say which ones.

"At the very early stages of the investigation the gentleman was a person of interest," he said.

"These sorts of investigations and incidents of their very nature hit home with the community."