Security guard charged with murder of Pyrmont building manager

A security guard will appear in court today charged with the murder of building manager Mohammad Bashir Zaheer, who was found bleeding to death in the lobby of a Sydney apartment building on Thursday.

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A 41-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his colleague, Mohammad Bashir Zaheer, after the 44-year-old was found bleeding to death in the lobby of Sydney apartment building where he lived and worked.

Jawid Jawid was arrested just after 7pm on Thursday in Parramatta and was taken to Westmead Hospital under police guard for observation.

Upon release from hospital, he was taken to Parramatta Police Station and charged with murder.

Mr Zaheer's colleague Jawid Jawid.

Floral tributes in the foyer were Mr Zaheer was killed. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The pair are understood to have worked together in security at the Mirage apartment building in Pyrmont before Thursday’s fatal attack.

Police will allege in court that the men were involved in an argument before the younger man stabbed the older man multiple times and left the scene.

Jawid was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

Mr Zaheer was found in the foyer of the Mirage Apartments at Pyrmont about 8am on Thursday with multiple stab wounds to his torso. He died at the scene.

Mohammed Bashir Zaheer, building manager for Mirage Pyrmont, was fatally stabbed.

Relatives were overwhelmed with grief outside the crime scene. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Acting Superintendent Sean Hea­ney said several people had witnessed the incident.

“They’re distraught, as you can ­imagine. Very, very distraught,” he said. “Same as the police and other emergency services that turned up”.

There were dramatic scenes outside the apartment building on Thursday afternoon, where devastated friends and relatives had gathered, come collapsing with grief.

Mr Zaheer’s former brother-in-law AJ, who did not wish to give his full name, said Mr Zaheer had lived and worked in the building on the corner of Bunn and Murray streets for two decades after moving from ­Afghanistan via India.

He said Mr Zaheer was “the light of our community.”

“No one can say a bad word about him. You want perfect? He was the perfect man,” he said. “He prayed five times a day, didn’t drink alcohol … his two sisters relied on him. What a guy.”

Family and friends outside the apartment block were distraught. Picture: Jeremy Piper

He Mr Zaheer worked 20 hours a day and worked his way up to be a manager before starting a security company.

“Now, he owns six units just here … he owns 20, 30 across Sydney,” he said.

“He built this empire from nothing.”

Police on the scene of the stabbing on Bunn St where a crime scene has been established. Picture: Richard Dobson

The man was found with life-threatening injuries in the foyer of the Pyrmont building and died at the scene. Picture: Richard Dobson