Brother charged over death of sister in western Sydney

The brother of a budding young artist whose badly decomposed body was found six days after her death in western Sydney has been charged with her murder.

The woman’s body was discovered on Monday. Picture: John Grainger

The brother of a budding young artist whose badly decomposed body was found six days after her death in western Sydney has been charged with her murder.

Lucas Delaney, 30, was arrested in Parramatta about 11am on Tuesday.

Police allege that Gabriella Delaney, 20, met with “foul play” days before police found her body inside the townhouse the siblings had shared in Cambridge Park near Penrith on Monday night.

Ms Delaney’s body was so badly decomposed that forensic officers were unable to determine how the young artist died or whether a weapon was used.

Detective Inspector Jason Pietruszka said the visual arts student had been missing for nearly a week and had not been seen or heard from since June 3.

“Police who entered the scene described it as devastating, very confronting. It’s tragic — a 20-year-old girl whose life was before her, cut short,” Inspector Pietruszka said.

Inspector Pietruszka said the siblings’ family in Western Australia are “extremely traumatised”.

Friends described Ms Delaney as a “sweet girl” who was “always smiling” and had an “amazing talent.”