Luke Lembryk: Tributes to alleged Condell Park murder victim
Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised for the family of a plumber who was allegedly murdered in front of his own mother. It comes amid developments in the probe into his killing.
Central Sydney
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A GoFundMe page set up following the alleged murder of plumber Luke Lembryk has raised nearly $30,000 just hours after being launched.
Lembryk was allegedly stabbed to death in front of his cancer suffering mother Robyn in her Condell Park unit in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Joseph Nehme, 27, Bilal Rahim, 29, and Viliami Taufahema, 35, have been charged with his murder.
It is understood his 59-year-old mum witnessed the alleged killing.
It has been reported the 29-year-old’s last words to her were “I’m going to die, Mum”.
The GoFundMe page, created by friend Matt Casey, is filled with tributes with more than 160 people already raising more than $28,800.
“Words can’t express how I feel,” one donor Susan Mauri commented. “I can’t believe you are gone. Rest In Peace Luke.”
His brother, Jake, also penned his own tribute on Facebook and thanked those who were supporting the family.
“From the bottom of our hearts we cannot thank everybody who has reached out to us and is supporting us,” he said. “You[r] generosity and kind words is helping us.
“We love everyone one of you, if we haven’t replied to a message…we are sorry.”
Hundreds of devastated friends and family members have responded to the post to share their grief.
Georgia Hahn commented: “The last time I spoke to [Luke] he said how funny it was that we lived a few houses apart but never saw each other. The next day we were both out the front at the same time and awkwardly waved. Wish I got to do that more!”.
Another friend, Taylor O’Brien, said: “Luke will always hold a special place in all of our hearts”.
When NewsLocal visited the scene of his death on Wednesday afternoon, parents had just started trickling into the quiet William St, parking their cars and walking up to collect their kids from nearby Condell Park Christian School.
Just 50m away forensic cleaners were scouring over her single-storey brick town house.
Her house looks like many others lining the unremarkable south west Sydney street, but its humble facade hides the lingering blood stains and finger print powder inside.
On the low brick fence and letterbox bordering the estate are two crumbling yellow and black signs that once read: ‘Trespassers will be Prosecuted’.
One man dressed in a white jumpsuit and blue gloves told NewsLocal that police had finished their investigations at the house.
After grabbing cleaning supplies from the back of a ute, he said officers “always leave more of a mess”.
Ms Lembryk was not at home when NewsLocal visited with the family saying she is “keeping to herself”.
The family statement said Robyn – who suffered bruising to her face during the fatal attack on her son – “knows how loved she is” seeing all of the condolences that have been sent.
“Mum is keeping to herself a lot and she will need time but you will know when she is ready to reach out,” the Facebook post added.
A number of family friends said they were her in their prayers.
“Robyn when you are ready to talk I am here for you,” Linda Wagstaff-Kalofonos wrote. “I know that words cannot comfort you but I am here for you and your family.”
Another friend, Cat Malcolm, said: “Can’t stop thinking about you Robyn since it’s happened. I’m so sad for you. Love to you and your family.”