Heartbreak for Kate Bell who was killed by boyfriend in Richmond murder-suicide
Kate Bell had been dating her boyfriend for just a few months before he brutally killed her in his Richmond apartment. Fears were raised about his mental health in the days prior to the fatal attack, after which he took his own life.
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A young woman with a “kind soul” was murdered by her new boyfriend at his Richmond home before he took his own life.
Kate Bell, 31, from Prahran, was brutally killed by her partner, Rahul Patel, 29, in his Church St apartment in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Forty minutes after police were informed of the attack, Patel was found dead at the base of a CBD building.
The murder-suicide has devastated loved ones of Ms Bell, a free spirit who loved to travel.
The Herald Sun understands Ms Bell had begun dating her killer only a few months ago and there were concerns over his mental health in the days prior to the fatal attack.
A close associate said she appeared to be in high spirits on Friday and texted a colleague that evening about the Tigers AFL match.
“She was in a good place. There was nothing to suggest there was something wrong,” the associate said.
Ms Bell moved to Melbourne from New Zealand in 2018 and worked as a personal assistant at Deloitte before starting her new role as an executive assistant at building consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall, in May.
RLB Director Tony Moleta said she was a bright young woman who would be dearly missed by her colleagues.
“Kate will be remembered as someone that had a kind soul and never said a bad word about anything or anyone,” he said.
“She was always striving to achieve the best outcome for everyone around her and our lives will be better for having known her.
“Kate was an enthusiastic and valuable member of our team, enjoying the life that she had created for herself here in Melbourne.”
Patel, also from New Zealand, worked as a Facilities Manager at CBRE Global Investors, according to his LinkedIn account.
Neighbours were woken to screaming before a man in a black hoodie was seen fleeing from the Richmond apartment block about 3.20am on Saturday.
By 4am Patel was discovered dead at the base of a building at the intersection of Spencer and Little Collins streets.
Homicide squad detectives are continuing to investigate Ms Bell’s murder.
Her family, based in New Zealand, were informed of her tragic death over the phone.
A family friend said it was an “extremely difficult and painful time” for them.
Anyone who needs help can call Lifeline 13 11 14.
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