Sabrina Lekaj worried about arguing with her father hours before her death

The night before she was allegedly stabbed to death, student Sabrina Lekaj told a close friend of her worries.

The last thing Sabrina Lekaj said to a close friend was “I love you, I’ll message you when I get home”.

Hours after the 20-year-old said those words, her stabbed body was found in her 2002 Mercedes Benz. Her father, Petrit Lekaj, 49, was found alongside with serious abdominal injuries. He had to be dragged out of the luxury vehicle by police and has now been charged with her murder.

Best friend Kat Valstar, 21, told news.com.au Ms Lekaj was worried she would argue with her father, after she had stayed overnight at Ms Valstar’s place after they went clubbing in downtown Adelaide on Saturday night.

“She was worried she was going to get yelled at when she got home,” Ms Valstar said.

Kat Valstar (left) and Sabrina Lekaj spent Saturday night together. Picture: Supplied by Kat Valstar

She said she had lost her best friend who she considered her “other half”.

“We were besties, always calling, texting every day … I had planned to see her this week, we were going to have lunch,” Ms Valstar told news.com.au.

When she didn’t hear from her on Sunday, Ms Valstar assumed her friend had gone home to sleep. She got the devastating news about her violent death on Monday.

“She was kind, caring, very smart and was always so good to her friends,” Ms Valstar said.

She wasn’t aware of any issues in Ms Lekaj’s family life that troubled her and could only recall her saying a couple of weeks ago she was frustrated her father was asking if she had a boyfriend.

“She was so independent, she didn’t need a boyfriend,” Ms Valstar said.

Sabrina Lekaj with father Petrit Lekaj.

Ms Lekaj’s body was found in her Mercedes Benz.

Her final night was spent at an Adelaide club dancing without a care in the world.

“She was just enjoying the time she was out and dancing … she was normal, happy, outgoing and vibrant that night,” Ms Valstar said.

Another friend told the ABC she always looked out for others.

“No matter how sad she was, she always made sure others around her were OK,” Jana Fandi said.

“She was always there for anyone who was around her. She always put others before her.”

Ms Lekaj was studying medical imaging at the University of South Australia and was driven by a passion to help unwell people.

“She used to tell me that she wanted to find a cure for all the diseases in the world. She was very ambitious,” Ms Fandi said.

She posted a tribute on Instagram, saying: “I can’t believe I’m writing this. My beautiful Sabrina.

“Incredibly talented pianist, high achiever and queen of dark humour. I love you. Forever in our hearts.”

Mr Lekaj, a well-known member of the Adelaide Albanian community, remains under police guard while sedated in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Sabrina Lekaj was studying medical imaging. Pictures supplied

Tributes have poured in for Ms Lekaj.

He is due to face a bedside court hearing on Friday.

The Mercedes was found just 250m from their family home

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Ransom has said police started looking for the white Mercedes just before 10pm on Sunday after members of the public said they were concerned about the welfare of the father and his daughter, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

He would not go into details on whether the incident was related to domestic violence, and would not comment on reports from neighbours that police had been called to the family home earlier on Sunday over a disturbance.

It remains unclear what sparked the incident. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Neighbours said the family was quiet and polite. They said Mr Lekaj was cheerful while mowing the front lawn just hours before his daughter’s death.

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