Michaela Dunn, 24, allegedly stabbed to death during Mert Ney’s CBD rampage
The woman found dead in a Clarence St unit after accused CBD knifeman Mert Ney was brought down by members of the public has been named as 24-year-old sex worker Michaela Dunn.
The woman who police believe was Mert Ney’s first victim — found dead with her throat slashed in a CBD apartment — has been named as Michaela Dunn.
It’s understood the 24-year-old sex worker from Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, was carrying out her business in fourth floor unit on Clarence St.
Ms Dunn’s body was discovered about 3.15pm yesterday after Ney was pinned to the ground by members of the public and arrested by police.
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It is alleged she was killed by Ney, who then ran out into the street and attacked another woman at random, stabbing her in the back.
A relative at Michaela Dunns’s family home in Lidcombe today said they were left deeply shocked by her death.
“We’re really upset and shocked by what’s happened, we’re grieving and trying to understand what happened,” the woman said.
“Michaela was very loved, that’s all we want to say right now.”
Homicide detectives are trawling through the young sex worker’s phone records and that of Ney, 20, as they work to establish the exact nature of the relationship between the pair.
It appears the victim used a website, Locanto, listing her name in personal advertisements to tout for business under the section “men seeking women”.
Police have now formed Strike Force Lalchere to investigate the attacks. The strike force will comprise detectives and officers from the Homicide Squad and Central Metropolitan Region, with assistance from the Terrorism Investigation Squad.
The unit where the woman was found is one of 40 boutique-style apartments, in a historic building, which cost about $700 a week to rent.
“What is known is the victim was a sex worker operating out of a unit on the fourth floor,” a police source said.
“How the couple met will all be examined by investigators but it is still very early in the case.’’
Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the alleged attacker had been visiting the woman’s unit for “business purposes”.
“It appears he (Ney) was there for a business purpose,” Commissioner Fuller said.
The other victim of Ney’s rampage yesterday was a 41-year-old woman who was randomly attacked as she walked down Clarence St about 2.36pm.
“The lady will be interviewed when she is feeling better although there appears to be no link to either the deceased or the accused,” the police source said.
It is believed the woman is an office worker who was walking outside Hotel CBD when she was stabbed.
She was conscious when she was treated by paramedics on the street and did not require surgery when she was admitted to St Vincent’s Hospital, where she remained last night in a stable condition, with stab wounds to her back.
Two of her colleagues arrived in police cars last night to offer support.
It was not clear last night whether she would be able to talk to police today.
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