Australia Australia - Amesha Rajapakse, 31, Westmead, NSW, 26 Aug 2014

[Oddsocks]

I don't really thing any of these news reports know who's who.

 

[SouthAussie]

A man at the scene cried, "Please, please let me see her face", a short time after Ms Rajapakse was found.

Wearing muddied shoes, he fell to his knees as he hugged relatives in heavy rain.

Officers were seen searching the man's pockets before he got into a police car and was driven from the estate along with another distressed man.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/scream-he...t-westmead-20140827-108z6w.html#ixzz3BvT6wPg9

When you watch the news clip, it seems that the brother only said that in translation for the father, Amee. It was the father who said it. (If the older man is the father.)

 

[Ausgirl]

A report I read last night said there's the father, sister, brother all living in the same apartment. So both kids were living at home with their dad. It also said Amesha was unmarried.

I wonder where their mother is? And why both kids in their 30's were living at home.

I can see the case for suicide - but really, I have a hard time seeing anyone choosing to drown themselves in less than 3 feet of water.

Going by the reports describing her walking back and forth in the foyer, it could be that she was waiting for someone -- or has spotted somebody she didn't want to meet up with. Her phone and entry card were both upstairs - why? If she was really going out to get a couple of grocery items I can understand the phone - but wouldn't she take her key, to let herself back in?

It really all is a bit strange.

 

[Oddsocks]

I can understand the kids living together with family. It really is the easiest way to survive financially in Sydney.

 

[SouthAussie]

A report I read last night said there's the father, sister, brother all living in the same apartment. So both kids were living at home with their dad. It also said Amesha was unmarried.

I wonder where their mother is? And why both kids in their 30's were living at home.

I can see the case for suicide - but really, I have a hard time seeing anyone choosing to drown themselves in less than 3 feet of water.

Going by the reports describing her walking back and forth in the foyer, it could be that she was waiting for someone -- or has spotted somebody she didn't want to meet up with. Her phone and entry card were both upstairs - why? If she was really going out to get a couple of grocery items I can understand the phone - but wouldn't she take her key, to let herself back in?

It really all is a bit strange.

Yep .. and they aren't even listed as the tenants of the apartment .. so others could be living there too. :waitasec:

I have wondered when the father even came to Australia .. the son and daughter came, each on their own, years before.

"Sahan Rajapakse, 30, left Sri Lanka in 2004 because of “the uncertainty of the future and the injustice and corrupt society in Sri Lanka.” He now works as a fraud analyst in Sydney. He says he was welcomed warmly into society in Sydney and is happy to call the city home.

Sahan’s little sister Amesha, 27, followed her brother to Australia in 2009 and is currently a university student. She says she left Sri Lanka for a better future, and was treated very well from the beginning of her stay."

http://www.teatime-mag.com/magazines/22-es/

 

[SouthAussie]

"Ms Rajapakse, her husband and other family members are believed to have lived at the unit block for only a few months and are not listed as the unit’s occupants."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...r-just-a-mystery/story-fni0cx12-1227038411749

 

[Ausgirl]

I think the Tele has confused brother for husband? It wouldn't surprise me, their fact checking is far from scrupulous.

 

[Amee]

When you watch the news clip, it seems that the brother only said that in translation for the father, Amee. It was the father who said it. (If the older man is the father.)

I have seen the news clip. Im not disagreeing that it wasnt the father. In the DT link you can see in both pics he is wearing the same jumper. It was just a link I found and that the info again was different.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...akse-in-westmead/story-fni0cx12-1227039468200

 

[Xantara]

I'm pretty sure the older guy in the last picture posted above is the father and the younger guy at the front of the picture is the brother. Despite all the conflicting and confusing reporting, at the end of the day this is the message that I have taken away from it all.
I also believe the brother was the guy who found Amesha, let out the blood curdling scream, and then called 000.
It is my understanding the father is the one who said to the police, that he wants to see her face.

<modsnip>

And yes, the occupancy arrangement is a little bit odd. You'd think that, after a few months, they would have their names registered as the official occupants of the unit they are renting, if there was a proper rental agreement.
I understand the brother has a job, but not sure about the father or Amesha. Amesha is reported as being an IT graduate, but nowhere have I read that she actually had a job.

 

[Xantara]

BTW Fruity, thanks for your reminder about the Lifeline number at the bottom of news reports if there's a purported suicide. Even before police make a formal statement to that effect, this inclusion is always a telling indicator.
So, seems like police are not leaning towards suicide at this point. And Damian Ryan, the reporter in the earliest videos, stresses himself that police have mobilised homicide squad officers and are thus appearing to treat this as murder.

 

[Xantara]

SORRY - DUPLICATE POST.
BTW Fruity, thanks for your reminder about the Lifeline number at the bottom of news reports if there's a purported suicide. Even before police make a formal statement to that effect, this inclusion is always a telling indicator.
So, seems like police are not leaning towards suicide at this point. And Damian Ryan, the reporter in the earliest videos, stresses himself that police have mobilised homicide squad officers and are thus appearing to treat this as murder.

 

[catswhiskers]

I don't see anything strange about an extended family sharing expensive city accommodation in a new country - for either cultural or financial reasons. Nor is it uncommon for one family member to get established, to be eventually joined by their relatives as finances and legalities permit.
I can think of lots of reasons why we haven't seen pics of Amesha - again possibly cultural (we know that indigenous Australians don't want images of their deceased on display) or maybe just an extremely private family. However, I'm not sure if I have missed it, but have police asked for any public assistance with reporting sightings of Amesha on the night she was last seen alive. I've wondered if Amesha was wearing typical street clothes or a more traditional Sri-Lankan outfit of some sort. Knowing how increasingly intolerant parts of our country is becoming, I'd not be surprised if vulnerable folks are targeted by thugs because of their appearance.

 

[SouthAussie]

I don't see anything strange about an extended family sharing expensive city accommodation in a new country - for either cultural or financial reasons. Nor is it uncommon for one family member to get established, to be eventually joined by their relatives as finances and legalities permit.
I can think of lots of reasons why we haven't seen pics of Amesha - again possibly cultural (we know that indigenous Australians don't want images of their deceased on display) or maybe just an extremely private family. However, I'm not sure if I have missed it, but have police asked for any public assistance with reporting sightings of Amesha on the night she was last seen alive. I've wondered if Amesha was wearing typical street clothes or a more traditional Sri-Lankan outfit of some sort. Knowing how increasingly intolerant parts of our country is becoming, I'd not be surprised if vulnerable folks are targeted by thugs because of their appearance.

Police are appealing for people with information to contact Crime Stoppers, catswhiskers.

They are appealing for anyone with further information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/scream-he...t-westmead-20140827-108z6w.html#ixzz3Bw4dULNi

Anyone with information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...akse-in-westmead/story-fni0cx12-1227039468200

 

[catswhiskers]

Ta SouthAussie I meant to say have they mentioned what she was wearing? Am wondering if a CCTV snip will appear soon - surely there needs to be some sort of description or image alongside appeals from the public, or how will they know who the police are asking about?
Apologies if I have missed that info - discovered this thread in the wee hours (couldn't sleep after a late night chocolate-fest) and have probably not read all the news articles posted so far.

 

[SouthAussie]

Other than a scarf around her neck (and possibly another scarf, or the same scarf, wedged into the door for who-knows-how-long), we know nothing about Amesha's appearance, dress, hairstyle, shoes, jewellery, handbag, purse ...

We think she may have had gift cards with her .. as her brother said that it was okay if she used the gift cards .. but her mobile phone was left at home.

We don't even know if she was supposedly walking to the shops, driving to the shops, getting a ride to the shops.

So, I'm not sure what information police are appealing for. Unless it is more personal info that someone who knew Amesha may be able to give them, or just general information of any activity near/at the creek or apartment complex that night. :dunno:


Another interesting tidbit is that in early MSM it was said that police were looking into whether Amesha was reported missing some days earlier (perhaps on a separate occasion?)

 

[MsAnais]

Ta SouthAussie I meant to say have they mentioned what she was wearing? Am wondering if a CCTV snip will appear soon - surely there needs to be some sort of description or image alongside appeals from the public, or how will they know who the police are asking about?
Apologies if I have missed that info - discovered this thread in the wee hours (couldn't sleep after a late night chocolate-fest) and have probably not read all the news articles posted so far.

Completely O/T but.....HELLOOOOO chocolate fest!!!:happydance:

 

[they'll get you]

Why haven't police given a photo or cctv clip of Anesha to bring out any witnesses who might have seen her walking to the shops or around the complex foyer and car park?
Amesha was allegedly missing for approx. 12 hours in wild weather so why wasn't a 000 called earlier?

Fruity good point about lifeline!

 

[they'll get you]

Completely O/T but.....HELLOOOOO chocolate fest!!!:happydance:

:gaah: .:silly: mmmm chocolate :heartbeat:

 

[MsAnais]

Why haven't police given a photo or cctv clip of Anesha to bring out any witnesses who might have seen her walking to the shops or around the complex foyer and car park?
Amesha was allegedly missing for approx. 12 hours in wild weather so why wasn't a 000 called earlier?

Fruity good point about lifeline!

Yes - that bit just makes no sense to me. When Amehsa didn't return with the milk and butter, surely the family would have started to worry and then ring the police?

If it was completely out of character for her to be out at night and not come straight home (which is what it sounds like according to what her brother has said about her lacking friends outside the family) then surely they'd be panicking after as little as an hour had passed? I would be if it was my daughter. I can understand them waiting a couple of hours before calling police, but not all night.

That fact concerns me.

 

[MsAnais]

Catswhiskers makes a good point. How can any member of the public assist or have their memory jogged if there is no photo or cctv footage released?

Westmead sounds like it has a fair few Sri Lankan families there - it's not like Amesha would have radically stood out. So why are there no images released to help solve this case?

Yet another oddity......