‘Unprovoked’ attack on homeless victim: Police hunt for killer who stabbed man in car

POLICE believe the murder of a homeless man living in his car in Sydney’s eastern suburbs could have been totally unprovoked.

Police sift through rubbish at a Maroubra property yesterday, searching for clues to last week’s stabbing murder of homeless man Peter Hoffman, 68.

• POST-MORTEM REVEALS HOMELESS MAN WAS STABBED
• HOMELESS MAN FOUND DEAD IN CAR AT MAROUBRA

POLICE believe the murder of a homeless man living in his car in Sydney’s eastern suburbs could have been ­totally unprovoked.

Peter Hoffman, 68, was found with multiple stab wounds inside his Ford Laser at 9.45pm last Wednesday after two men were seen lurking outside the ­vehicle in the lead up to his body being discovered.

Police yesterday executed a search warrant on properties in the area, scouring rubbish bins for a murder weapon.

As part of their ongoing investigations into Peter Hoffman’s murder, Strike Force Perrey officers executed a crime scene warrant in Portland Cr, Maroubra.

Detectives from Eastern Beaches Local Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad sift through rubbish bins in Maroubra.

Strike Force Perrey detectives move in on a Maroubra property.

They have urged anyone who may have seen the two men to come forward.

“In particular, we would like to speak with members of the community who saw anyone acting suspiciously in or near Coral Sea Park on Yorktown Pde, Maroubra, that night,” a police spokesman said yesterday.

“At the moment we are following a number of leads but we believe the attack may have been totally ­unprovoked.”

It has now been revealed Mr Hoffman was a former Sydney Buses driver who left his most recent job at the Port Botany depot about five years ago.

“Vale. Peter (Hoffman) has tragically passed away. Our condolences to all of Peter’s friends and family,” the Port Botany Bus Institute posted online, along with a memo from the depot manager offering counselling to other drivers.

Mr Hoffman had only one known relative — a sister living in the United Kingdom.

“How the victim came to be living in these circumstances will all be part of the ­investigation,” police said.

The initial crime scene where the car containing Mr Hoffman was found. Source: 7NEWS

The initial crime scene at Mons Ave, Maroubra, set up by police after the body of the homeless man was found. Picture: John Fotiadis

Strike Force Perrey, consisting of detectives from the Eastern Beaches Local Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, has been set up to ­investigate the murder.

An extensive search of the area near where Mr Hoffman’s body was found on Mons Ave was searched by a large team of police looking for clues yesterday.

“As part of their ongoing investigations, strike force ­officers executed a crime scene warrant in Portland Crescent, Maroubra, about 11.30am yesterday,” a police spokesman said.

A post-mortem examination concluded Mr Hoffman died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

When his body was found last week, it ­appeared the rear windows of his car had been smashed from the inside. Police said they are still examining the scientific evidence taken from the vehicle. The car was registered to Mr Hoffman, who locals said had been living inside it for some time.

He was described as well-spoken and seemed self-­reliant, often knocking back offers of money from residents in the seaside suburb.