A woman allegedly murdered by her neighbor has been described as a “devoted daughter, sister and mother” by grieving loved ones.
Ana Fa Lavaka, 43, was allegedly murdered by Dorothy Jane Downie, 55, at about 8.45am on Thursday at a unit complex on Oxford Street in Hamilton, Brisbane.
Emergency services found the mother of a child seriously injured from multiple wounds, including a stab wound to the chest.
She was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital where doctors pronounced her dead as a result of her injuries.
Downie appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday where she was charged with murder and entering the dwelling with intent.
Ana Fa Lavaka, 43, (pictured) was allegedly murdered by Dorothy Jane Downie, 55, at a unit complex on Oxford Street in Hamilton, Brisbane, at 8.45am on Thursday.
Forensic investigators placed evidence in brown paper bags at the home on Thursday
Emergency services found Ms Lavaka seriously injured in the Hamilton unit complex (photo)
Ms Lavaka's relative, Ana Kauffusi, shared a tribute online in the hours after the alleged murder.
'Both born in the same year, same month… I was 22 days older than you. B1 and B2,” she wrote.
“You'd always hate it when I told everyone you were named after me.
'We had plans for our 50th anniversary. You wanted to go on a cruise, clearly knowing that I get seasick.
“I stayed up last night waiting for your call because we had a lot to complain about yesterday.”
Others from Ms Lavaka's local Tongan community shared their sympathy for her family on social media.
“Ana was known to many as our enthusiastic baker, devoted daughter, sister and most of all mother to her beautiful daughter Amelia,” one person wrote.
Police prosecutor Tara Williams made a statement in court urgent forensic request for a sample of Downie's blood before it was too late, the Courier mail reports.
“The urgency has to do with the amount of drugs that were present in her blood at the time, both prescription and over-the-counter,” she told the court.
'The longer it takes to process this request, the levels will change your honor over time. It will result in incomplete information that the prosecution and defense will have to take into account.”
Downie's defense attorney, Daniel Hannay, said police believed his client had a history of 'delusions of grandeur and psychosis', which he had yet to address.
Mr Hannay said Downie had to be cared for by a mental health nurse first and did not resist Sergeant Williams' request for a blood sample.
Ms Lavaka died at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Thursday
A crime scene was set up at the Oxford Street complex on Thursday (pictured).
Detectives (photo) arrived at the social housing complex to knock on residents' doors
Magistrate Hackett said that despite Downie's mental health issues, the evidence requested by Sgt Williams had the 'potential to be highly relevant and could be lost'.
No bail application was made and Downie did not appear in court on Friday.
She was taken into custody and will not have to attend her next court appearance on February 14.
Detective Inspector John Mison confirmed officers had previously visited the unit complex 'a number of times'.
“This is a very sad and tragic loss of life,” he told reporters on Thursday.
The unit complex is a multi-unit public housing facility managed by the Department of Housing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.