A Chinese student who was allegedly stabbed to death by her partner told friends a few days earlier that she planned to leave him. She later told him she didn’t want a relationship anymore.
The 21-year-old woman was found dead in an apartment in a block of flats on Conder Street in Burwood in Sydney’s west on Monday morning.
Her partner, also 21, is suspected of stabbing her and then jumping from a balcony.
New South Wales police were called to the apartment complex on Monday after a resident found the man’s half-naked body in a garden bed in the complex’s courtyard.
It is believed the young woman recently returned to China, before flying back to Australia.
Last weekend she told friends that she wanted to leave her boyfriend, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The pair, who were living in Australia on student visas, were reportedly heard arguing shortly before their deaths.
A New South Wales police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that officers will investigate whether there was domestic violence between the two.
The 21-year-old woman was found dead in an apartment in Burwood, in central Sydney, on Monday morning (Photo: Forensic staff at the scene)
A friend of the deceased woman, who was questioned by police on Monday evening, told officers that the victim wanted to leave her partner.
The woman is said to have informed her boyfriend a few days ago that she no longer wanted a relationship with him.
Police remained at the crime scene on Tuesday.
Security footage from the apartment complex showed the two engaged in a verbal altercation early Monday morning.
Earlier, the police had also viewed images of the same event, which showed the man entering the complex with two other women.
After a close examination of the footage, officers arrived at the unit where the group was seen entering.
Police forced open the door and found the woman’s body with stab wounds.
Police suspect the woman was stabbed between the early morning hours of Monday and 9:30 a.m.
Detective Chief Inspector Christine McDonald said on Monday that officers had recovered the suspected murder weapon from the unit.
“It is too early to say whether this is domestic violence, but violence against any person is not tolerated and will not be,” she said.
A resident of the apartment complex said she saw officers crouching over the man’s body from her balcony.
Police set up a crime scene and covered the remains with a tent.
“It was pretty scary…then they covered it up before we could see much more,” the woman said.
A New South Wales Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that officers will investigate whether there was domestic violence between the two (pictured are forensic officers at the scene)
Another resident who lives nearby said he heard a “really loud bang” around 6 a.m.
“I wasn’t sure what it was, I didn’t hear anyone screaming. It was dead quiet,” they told Daily Mail Australia.
‘[Then] At around 8:15 a.m. I saw about eight police officers and three detectives.
‘The police were there and they counted the balconies. There was a white sheet, but then it started to rain, so they put up a blue tent.’
The man was found naked from the waist down, with injuries to his ankles. Police are investigating the suspicion that he jumped from the building.
Detectives are also believed to be investigating whether the woman was sexually abused.
The Chinese consulate says it is assisting the woman’s family in China, who have been notified of her death.
The consulate has been contacted for further comment.
An autopsy will be performed on the two bodies in the coming days.
The woman’s partner, also 21, jumped from a balcony in the apartment complex (pictured) to his death, after which police found his body in the building’s courtyard
According to Chief Inspector McDonald, it is unlikely that the police know the unit and the individuals.
The woman and man have yet to be formally identified.
Anyone with information is urged to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers.
For confidential 24-hour support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.