Strata manager Kristina Kalnic ‘bashed to death’ in random attack metres from her front door

NEIGHBOURS watched on helplessly as the caretaker of their Western Sydney unit block was allegedly bashed to death in broad daylight. Imaueli Jone Degei, 18, and who suffers from mental illness, allegedly attacked Kristina Kalnic at random.

NEIGHBOURS watched on helplessly as the caretaker of their Western Sydney unit block was allegedly bashed to death in broad daylight.

There was little those that rushed to help the well-liked strata manager Kristina Kalnic could do as she lay in a pool of her own blood in the driveway of the Carramar unit block at 1.15pm on Saturday.

“I heard screaming and looked outside my window and the lady was on the ground and there was blood everywhere,” Ula Naitokatoka said.

“I ran out but it was too late to do anything for her.

“It was shocking. Kristina was a nice lady.”

Kristina Kalnic was murdered outside her Carramar apartment on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Facebook

Imaueli Jone Degei has been charged with the murder of 64-year-old woman Kristina Kalnic. Picture: Facebook

Police arrested a 130kg mentally ill teenager near the Sandal Crescent property following a short chase.

Officers handcuffed 18-year-old Imaueli Jone Degei and lay him on his back in a gutter as paramedics tried to revive his 64-year-old alleged victim but she died only metres from her home.

Investigators say the attack was completely random and are trying to establish why Degei was more than 30kms from his Airds home where he lives with his family.

18-year-old Imaueli Jone Degei is arrested near the unit block, allegedly after a short chase.

Residents told The Daily Telegraph that they had seen Degei in the area previously.

Degei was charged with murder and yesterday Parramatta Bail Court heard he was undergoing mental health treatment.

The court heard he had “mental health issues” when he allegedly walked up to Mrs Kalnic and attacked her with his bare hands.

Degei, a student at Westfield Sports High School and rugby player with an amateur Fairfield club did not apply for bail and remained in the cells instead of appearing in court.

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Police respond to the scene of the Ms Kalnic’s attack but cannot save her life.

Magistrate John Crawford recommended that Corrective Services give Degei his prescription medication while in custody.

Serbian-born Ms Kalnic, who studied psychology at the University of Western Sydney, was the caretaker of the unit block in where she had lived with her husband Zivan Galic for more than two decades.

Officers chased Degei from the scene before arresting him. Picture: Steve Tyson

Ms Kalnic’s husband was too distraught to comment. The couple had lived at the address for over 20 years. Picture: Steve Tyson

Her husband was too distraught to comment.

Neighbours said that Ms Kalnic had no children but she looked after everyone in the unit block where she had been the strata manager since late last year.

Ms Kalnic was the strata manager of the Carramar unit block. Picture: Jenny Evans

They said she had already made a big difference to the units, creating a flower garden at the entrance.

Resident Bhakti Panchal she said she and her husband Prakesh didn’t sleep all Saturday night.

“We prayed for her last night. I am very upset, Kristina was a good lady, very smart. She looked after the whole building. She worked very hard. What is going to happen to our building without her?” Ms Panchal said.