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How Tinder party led to fatal bungled robbery

After a man flashed wads of cash during a Tinder meet-up, it inspired a bungled robbery during which he was brutally stabbed to death.

Monday, September 30 | Top stories | From the Newsroom

A Sydney man who murdered Luke Lembryk during a robbery-gone-wrong after receiving a tip-off following a Tinder party is facing the prospect of a lengthy jail sentence.

Mr Lembryk, 29, died after being stabbed multiple times during an attempted robbery by Joseph Nehme and another man at his Condell Park home in the early hours of December 7, 2019.

The court was previously told that months earlier, Mr Lembryk matched with Lisa Price on Tinder.

And during a meet-up at his home, he flashed a wad of cash estimated to be more than $10,000.

Luke Lembryk was stabbed to death in front of his mother. Picture: Supplied
Luke Lembryk was stabbed to death in front of his mother. Picture: Supplied

Price informed others before Nehme and another man, Viliami Taufahema, entered the house intending to steal drugs and money.

When Mr Lembryk resisted, he was fatally stabbed and died in front of his mother, whom he shared the unit with.

Following a trial, Nehme was in April this year found guilty of murder and assault with intent to rob in company.

Nehme, 31, is now facing sentencing proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court having been found guilty of murder, which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

During the trial, he claimed he was not the one that inflicted the fatal stab wound.

Mr Lembryk was killed in a robbery at his Condell Park home. Picture: Supplied
Mr Lembryk was killed in a robbery at his Condell Park home. Picture: Supplied

During a sentence hearing on Monday, the court was told that Nehme was a long-time drug user who began using cocaine daily by the time he was 25 and the following year began abusing ice.

The court was told he had given conflicting accounts to Justice Health and a forensic psychologist about his use of drugs while in custody.

He will face court again later in the year before he is sentenced.

Taufahema was also found guilty of murder following a separate trial and is awaiting his sentencing.

Price and another man, Bilal Rahim, who was present at the robbery but did not go inside the home, were found not guilty of murder.

However, they were found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, assault with intent to rob in company and aggravated break and enter.

They will be sentenced on November 8.

Originally published as How Tinder party led to fatal bungled robbery

Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/how-tinder-party-led-to-fatal-bungled-robbery/news-story/b72535733772f3bf86334161b550b5ae