Sydney stabbing: Mert Ney’s sister describes family’s ‘disgust’
Alleged knifeman Mert Ney’s sister says he descended into insanity over the past week.
Alleged Sydney knifeman Mert Ney descended into insanity over the last week, according to his sister, who said today she had been afraid for his wellbeing.
Ms Ney, who did not want her full name printed, said her brother could be “hostile” but she was completely shocked by his violent rampage.
“I think it’s obvious that it’s, like, steep descent into, like, insanity I guess…. He… he has, I think the word is, absconded from hospital … we thought he was a threat to himself,” Ms Ney told reporters today.
“It’s clear that he is mentally ill… but we have had an estranged relationship, because of how he is… (he’s) hostile.”
Ms Ney said she was not on good terms with her brother, who had left their family home in Marayong, near Blacktown, on Wednesday last week.
She said her mother was sick and had not been eating due to stress.
“She’s sick, she has not been eating and we had to go to the doctor’s last night because of all the stress, I wish there was a way I could make it all better,” Ms Ney said.
Ms Ney said she was ashamed to share the same family name as her brother, was disgusted by his actions and would not be visiting him.
“I’m shocked, angry, disgusted, I hate my last name,” Ms Ney said.
“I don’t want to go near him because… (he did) something so despicable,” Ms Ney said
She said her family was not religious and it was news to her that her brother was researching extremist material and saving it to a USB, but she did think her brother was suicidal.
“(The woman who was stabbed) was younger than me, should - could’ve gone out to go shopping with her mum, have dinner with her boyfriend… and she can’t do that now, can she?” she said.
“I still can’t believe it’s him but it is him,” Ms Ney said.
“(My mother) is distraught, she is so wrecked… we’re all devastated,” Ms Ney said.
“I’m afraid of him.”
‘He went on the street to kill more people’
Police and anti-terror authorities are continuing a massive sweep of alleged Sydney knifeman Mert Ney’s bedroom and social media accounts to determine if terrorism or mental illness drove him to yesterday’s stabbing frenzy which left a woman dead and another in hospital with stab s wounds.
NSW Police Commissioner Mike Fuller, in a press conference this morning, labelled 20-year-old Ney a “criminal’’ and said he was confident that after slaying a 24-year-woman “he went on to the street to kill more people’’.
Mr Fuller’s comments came as Mr Ney’s sister alleged he punched her in the face and chocked her in a domestic violence incident last week at the family home at Marayong in Sydney’s west.
“He ran at me, punched me and choked me, I couldn’t breathe,’’ she told The Daily Telegraph.
She said her brother had battled anxiety, OCD, depression and schizophrenia.
“What happened to those two women is tragic, I feel disgusted,’’ she said.
Mr Fuller said the fact that the second woman was alive in yesterday’s Sydney CBD attack was a “miracle’’.
“And the fact that other people are alive is mainly because of the heroic behaviour of so many citizens in Sydney,’’ Mr Fuller said.
Mr Fuller said Mr Ney’s spreadsheet from a criminal history perspective was “unremarkable’’.
“Obviously there is an issue around his mental health and the fact on whether he was a lone actor or whether he was part of something more sinister,’’ Mr Fuller said.
“This needs to be investigated properly and we rely on not just NSW police but the Australian Federal Police, ASIO and international partners to assist us with those investigations.
“And what’s important there is if we can link him to terrorist activities then the offences that follow would see him locked behind bars for a very, very long time.’’
Mr Fuller said counter-terrorism police were examining a USB stick with information relating to mass killings on it and investigations would focus on his bedroom and social media accounts to “shine more light on why the crime happened’’.
“Just having footage saved on a USB drive is not a leap far enough for me to say it is a terrorist incident but obviously it is extremely concerning. And it is the starting point of a long-term investigation,’’ Mr Fuller said.
“I think we can debate this. I think he is a criminal. I think he came in with the intent to stab and injure people and that’s my primary focus. The mental health considerations will of course occur through the judicial process.’’
“And I think anyone who commits an act of mass killings, I mean how can they not be mentally ill I suppose. For mine they are a criminal first and the issue around mental health is a distant second.’’
Mr Fuller said police did not have any information to suggest Mr Ney was linked to terrorist groups but “we haven’t discounted any links to any groups other than the fact that we know that our national partners and our federal partners do not have any information on him at the moment.’’
Mr Ney remained in hospital this morning and police are keen to interview him as soon as possible
Mr Ney had been listed by his family as a missing person after they had concerns for his welfare and he had been involved in a “domestic violence situation’’.
Mr Fuller said he was on the police system as “keep a lookout for’’.
Police sources have confirmed Mr Ney fled from the family home in Marayong in Sydney’s west after his “intimidating” behaviour prompted his mother and sister to call police for help.
Police say Mr Ney appeared to have been “couch surfing” and homeless in the days leading up to the attack. It also appears he was still taking his medication for depression as he was carrying the medication in his pockets when he was tackled to the ground by bystanders yesterday.
It appeared he had self-admitted to a mental health facility following a mental health but police were still seeking information on subsequent mental health assessments.
Mr Fuller said the 24-year-woman who was killed in yesterday’s attack was believed to be an Australian national.
Police were piecing together footage of Mr Ney’s movements in the Sydney CBD prior to the rampage and had confirmed he had had telephone contact with the woman, believed to be a sex worker, who was killed.
Neighbours of Mr Ney said he was a quiet man who kept to himself, although one said he had heard drunken yells coming from the house.
“I heard loud noises as if they were drunk (in the house) two to three times a week,” Simar Breet Singh, who lives opposite Mr Ney’s home, said.
“I’ve heard shouting. “They used to make noises like screaming... but they don’t usually come out much.”
“They look like simple people, doing their work not suspicious.”
The 41-year-old woman who survived allegedly being stabbed by Mr Ney during his rampage will remain in hospital for “the next couple of days” as she recovers from her injuries.
The Chinese Consulate General in Sydney has confirmed that the woman injured in yesterday’s stabbing frenzy is a Chinese citizen, according to a statement published on its website and wechat account.
She arrived at St Vincents hospital in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, about 2km from the spot in the heart of Sydney’s CBD where Ney attacked her with a butchers knife.
The Australian understands doctors treating her are viewing her injuries as a slashing on her upper back.
David Faktor, spokesman for St Vincents hospital, said she was in a stable condition this morning and was “in good hands”.
“We anticipate that she’ll probably be with us for the next couple of days, we’ll see how we go.
“Generally, patients like this, we want to ensure that they’re fully supported and that no stone is left unturned in terms of their care.
“So we always err on the side of caution and make sure that they receive all the care that they need.” Mr Faktor said.
The Chinese consulate has also warned Chinese citizens in Sydney to stay safe and “avoid crowds”, urging them to call 000 for emergency as well as providing Consular assistance hotline numbers.
MORE: Terror, yes... but is it terrorism?
Additional reporting: Elias Visontay, Heidi Chan
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