Student arrested over Kimberley McRae Coogee murder
A Colombian student who booked a flight out of Australia before the body of Kimberley McRae was found in her Coogee apartment has been arrested on a Caribbean island.
NSW
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A 20-year-old Colombian male on a student visa has been arrested on a Caribbean island for the murder of Sydney sex worker Kimberley McRae at her Coogee apartment.
The day after Ms McRae was allegedly killed and before her body was discovered, the man booked a flight to Aruba where its believed he has relatives.
The 69 year-old transgender woman was found in her unit on January 14 after being allegedly strangled four days earlier before her body was discovered.
NSW Police said they are now preparing to apply for extradition of the man arrested by local police on the island of Aruba last week.
Ms McRae a well-known figure in the area around Coogee where she lived had been strangled.
While police were investigating the man's possible involvement in the murder they discovered he had already left the country to visit relatives. NSW Police immediately began to liaise with the local police resulting in the man's arrest last Wednesday.
It’s understood he had been studying a business diploma.
"Detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad are working with Commonwealth agencies to seek the man's extradition to Australia,' a NSW Police spokesperson said.
'The priority for all Australian authorities is seeking the return of the man to face justice.'
It is a lengthy process and it will probably be weeks before NSW police fly to the Caribbean to attempt to have him return to Australia.