‘Love of my life’: Friends, family pay tribute to stabbing victim Michaela Dunn

Friends and family have paid tribute to Michaela Dunn, fatally stabbed in Sydney this week. Her heartbroken mum described her as “God’s best gift”.

The mother, sister and friends of Michaela “Mikki” Dunn have paid tribute to the 24-year-old woman who was killed in a brutal attack in Sydney’s CBD this week.

Ms Dunn’s sister Emily changed her profile picture to a smiling image of the two women, both wearing high ponytails and looking happy.

“Forever God’s BEST gift,” their mother Joanne commented on the picture.

Dozens of other people paid tribute to Ms Dunn, who police allege was killed in her Clarence St apartment by 20-year-old Mert Ney.

“Emily what a beautiful picture she is just stunning and so are you. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous love and light coming to you,” Lara Hall wrote.

“Em, I was so devastated to hear the news, I can’t even imagine what you are all going through. Sending so much love,” Noga Edelstein added.

“Oh Emily, my heart bleeds for you, I could not believe my ears when I heard her name on the radio,” Kathryn Laurie said.

“Please remember that god picks his favourite flowers first. Fly high beautiful angel, you will be forever in my heart and thoughts.”

Michaela Dunn was killed on Tuesday.

Lawyer, Emily Dunn, told The Daily Telegraph the family was “in shock” after what had happened. She said the family are still “trying to grieve” and come to terms with what had occured.

Their mother Joanne is said to be “inconsolable” following Michaela’s death. Her Facebook profile is full of pictures of her two daughters with comments saying she was “blessed to have good girls”. In comments following another picture of the two daughters, she agreed they were “strong , independent, intelligent women.”

It comes as Michaela Dunn’s friend, known as Ashleigh Elise, said the world was “truly a much darker place” without the 24-year-old.

“My world has been taken away from me. My other half, my best friend and the love of my life,” she posted on Instagram. “No words are able to describe the light you were, not just to me — but everyone.

“You were the most beautiful person, inside and out. You would brighten up anywhere you went just by your presence; and now the world is truly a much darker place. I love you Mik’s, so much.”

She thanked Ms Dunn for always being by her side and stated life would never be the same.

“I can’t believe you’re not here,” the best friend said. “This is something I will never be able to recover from. I don’t know how to breathe without you.”

Ms Dunn was found in a Clarence St apartment with a fatal laceration to her neck about 3.15pm on Tuesday. Her alleged attacker, Mert Ney, 20, was seen at 2pm brandishing a knife along the city’s streets before he was dramatically detained with wicker chairs and a milk crate, then arrested.

Police were then alerted to the discovery of Ms Dunn’s body.

Michaela Dunn’s best friend, Ashleigh (left), says she has lost the love of her life. Picture: Instagram

Tributes, including a small teddy bear with a message ‘Taken too soon’, were left outside the Sydney apartment building where Michaela Dunn was found dead. Picture: Derrick Krusche

Ms Dunn’s best friend’s post was accompanied with a slide show of pictures of the two young women at various social events, with smiles plastered across their faces.

It has been swamped with messages of love and condolences.

“Mikki’s light will always be shining on you,” friend Tegan King commented.

Many posted simple love hearts in support.

Michaela Dunn’s best friend, Ashleigh (right), says she doesn’t know how she will recover from the 24-year-old’s death in Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday. Picture: Instagram

Further details about the well-travelled victim from Sydney’s inner west, who had been working as an escort at the time of her death, have emerged since Tuesday afternoon.

She attended Rosebank College in Five Dock and graduated in 2012. Ms Dunn went on to study at Notre Dame University, at the inner-city Broadway campus, and posted pictures of her time there.

A spokesman for the university today told news.com.au they were “shocked and saddened by this terrible tragedy”.

“The thoughts and prayers of all of our staff and students go out to the family and friends of Michaela at this time,” he said. He confirmed Ms Dunn was a business graduate in 2016.

Michaela Dunn graduated from business at Notre Dame University and travelled the world. Picture: Instagram

Rosebank College principal Tom Galea said the school was “mindful of the sadness and grief” being experienced by Ms Dunn’s parents, Joanne and James, and her older sister Emily — who graduated from Rosebank in 2007.

He said many of her friends were also ex-students of the college.

In a letter issued to the community yesterday, Mr Galea said Ms Dunn was fondly remembered as a “highly successful and much valued student” at Rosebank.

“She was one of four social justice captains in her graduating year and an accomplished student with a passionate commitment to excellence who received academic merit awards in her studies,” he said.

Ms Dunn was well-respected, conscientious and highly motivated, Mr Galea said.

“She was seen as a mature, resilient young woman and a positive role model,” he said.

The principal acknowledged that the loss of someone so young would undoubtedly have a huge impact on the community.

“Counselling services and prayer and reflection spaces are available for those who might be affected by these tragic events,” Mr Galea said.

Ms Dunn’s family issued a statement through the NSW Police on Tuesday requesting privacy. Joanne Dunn has previously described her two daughters on Facebook as “lovely human beings” and said she was “blessed to have good girls” including “photogenic Mikki”.

Ney remains in police custody.

The young woman described her ‘Mik’s’ as a light in everyone’s lives. Picture: Instagram