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

[Keshi]

One, to me, puzzling scenario is: if Amesha was concerned or upset by something she saw/heard in the foyer, why did she proceed?
Assuming she was only going out to buy milk and butter, was that worth putting yourself in an unpleasant situation of some sort for??
If it were me, I would have gone back up and made up some excuse why I didnt go ahead - that's if she couldn't be upfront and honest with her father about what she saw or felt in the foyer. And once back upstairs, I would have called police or at least told someone, if I thought I were in danger.
That's what many people would do, all things being equal. But clearly in this case they were not.
One way or another, things don't add up.

I agree with you. I raised this same point when discussing it with a friend. I would have gone back up myself and called the Police too.

The very fact that she didn't go back up makes it clear it wasn't an unknown/suspicious person who made her behave that way in the foyer. It later occurred to me this is close to the behaviour of someone who could not go back up because that would mean defeating the purpose she came down for. Logic suggests she just did not want to go back up - for a reason only she knew. It is also the very reason why she may have left her mobile phone provided that her dad didn't need it, and/or the access card. It isolates the fact she didn't intend to be traced or go back up immediately.

To me it looks like she arranged to meet someone she knew, and made shopping the excuse to get out of the house. Butter and milk is not something you would pace the foyer for and wait for the rain to stop without going back up. It just doesn't make sense.

Either she was waiting in the foyer for someone that the family didn't know or she was fleeing her home for some reason that we don't know yet, hence the agitation. That is the only 2 possible explanations for the said behaviour. However, a detailed analysis of her facial expressions etc by behavioural experts would shed some light on what it really may have been besides all this speculation.

One other thing that crossed my mind was, all this information we've received so far about Amesha's last day was from her brother. So, lets think beyond that.

** Was she really shopping that night? Was that the real reason why she left the house? Could it be for some other reason that she left? (Hence the agitation in the foyer which clearly does not fit with the behaviour of a person that was about to go grocery shopping).

** Was she fleeing home from an unbearable situation or a fight? (Fits with pacing in the foyer, indecision and all that contemplation)

** Was she mentally ill? (Mental illness is often feared and seen as something to be embarrassed about in our culture). Most Lankans are not open and honest about mental illness because of the stigma and social isolation associated with it. Is the family hiding something that they never disclosed to anyone else before?

** Could the brother's phone call be the reason why she left home that night? Meaning she was actually home when he called, then something happened that persuaded her to leave the house in distress? Leaving the phone behind as well. (Hence his 2nd call again to Amesha which would actually be the first call made by him 'after' she left?)

** Could the events of that day and the timing of calls etc have been slightly or entirely adjusted/made up either to lead the investigation down a different track or due to the shame, guilt etc associated with what may have really taken place that day? Not saying any of her family members are responsible for her disappearance and death, but first hand accounts of what would have happened that day can be altered by people just to avoid embarrassment/liability for a stupid argument or fight that may have taken place, even if they were not responsible for her death. The reason she may have left the house for could be too devastating a fact for the family members to admit to and be open about?

Just thinking out loud, outside the 'presented' data.

 

[Xantara]

Great points, Keshi!
It's been mentioned upthread somewhere before and also been mentioned in the media, that police were also said to be looking into whether Amesha had been reported missing a few days earlier, or something similar to that.
So, yes, perhaps she was in a crisis, depressed, etc.
But if she wanted to disappear, wouldn't it have been much easier to undertake the lead up to that during the day?! Would have given her a much better head start and she could have availed herself of much better excuses, which would have also bought her more time. Whereas 7.30pm on a rainy Tuesday night????
On the one hand, sounds a bit spur of the moment, as does the milk and butter story. But on the other hand, if she WAS intending to meet someone, it could not have been that spontaneous.
It stands out to me, that she was seen pacing the foyer front to back. Isn't there a window at the back of the foyer, or was that mentioned in a report somewhere?
So, from the outset, in her agitated state, she's not just concerned about the front of the building, she also appears preoccupied with the back? And that's exactly where the creek is.
Perhaps she WAS planning to go over the wall for some reason, and was checking out the surroundings to make sure no one was around to see her do so? Or waiting for someone is the vicinity to leave, for the coast to be clear??
But that of course begs the question, why decide to clamber over the wall at night?!
And the conundrum and logistical issues I've so far thought of, in relation to her endeavouring to meet up with someone, I've set out in the previous post...

 

[Keshi]

I wonder then, was it her plan to return? To say you are going out to buy something as common as milk and butter, puts you in a position where - firstly - one is expected to come back with the goods: milk and butter; and secondly - one puts oneself in a situation where one is expected to be back within a reasonably short period of time!
I wonder what alternative activity she could have had in mind for that period of time, which would still allow her time to go and buy the milk and butter she had committed herself to??...
And how could she arranged a possible meet-up, if not by mobile? And her father had custody of her phone - so that's already one intervention to potential full secrecy.
One also has to think of the motives and perspective of whoever it was who killed her (if it wasn't suicide). How could they have made the arrangement? By email, by phone? If they're a person with evil motives/intentions, then those media retain a trace of contact.
It must have been someone who knew of the creek/underpass, as it is hidden behind a wall. So, had they made some prior arrangement in person? Someone from within the complex? Obviously, someone who knew where she lived and I'd say, had probably been there before?...

There's also the possibility there was no 'butter and milk' shopping scenario at all.

As for the killer if this was a murder, well, he/she can be anyone who had easy access to Amesha's association and one who could control her emotions. Killers aren't always total strangers.

If it was a stranger and if Amesha was in contact with them via email etc that will be traced eventually.

 

[Keshi]

Great points, Keshi!
It's been mentioned upthread somewhere before and also been mentioned in the media, that police were also said to be looking into whether Amesha had been reported missing a few days earlier, or something similar to that.
So, yes, perhaps she was in a crisis, depressed, etc.
But if she wanted to disappear, wouldn't it have been much easier to undertake the lead up to that during the day?! Would have given her a much better head start and she could have availed herself of much better excuses, which would have also bought her more time. Whereas 7.30pm on a rainy Tuesday night????
On the one hand, sounds a bit spur of the moment, as does the milk and butter story. But on the other hand, if she WAS intending to meet someone, it could not have been that spontaneous.
It stands out to me, that she was seen pacing the foyer front to back. Isn't there a window at the back of the foyer, or was that mentioned in a report somewhere?
So, from the outset, in her agitated state, she's not just concerned about the front of the building, she also appears preoccupied with the back? And that's exactly where the creek is.
Perhaps she WAS planning to go over the wall for some reason, and was checking out the surroundings to make sure no one was around to see her do so? Or waiting for someone is the vicinity to leave, for the coast to be clear??
But that of course begs the question, why decide to clamber over the wall at night?!
And the conundrum and logistical issues I've so far thought of, in relation to her endeavouring to meet up with someone, I've set out in the previous post...

Maybe it was a momentary lapse of judgement @ climbing the wall

Yes good point @ checking out the surroundings

If it was mental illness or an instant reaction to a fight or argument at home, she won't be in a stable state of mind to decide the time of the day to flee. Day or night, the moment something bothers us we could just take off. And if it was for the purpose of suicide why would she plan it at all or buy time. The mind is a very strange place. And a dangerous one too.

Sometimes we will never be able to understand why someone did what they did. I really feel for this girl. I just can't get her off my mind. Wish we get to see something about her in the news tomorrow.

 

[happyfeet]

Hi Everyone

I have been following this thread for a couple of days now and finally thought of joining the discussion 
I am very concerned as to what happened to Amesha as I also live close by (about 5 mins away) and I am also a Sri Lankan girl.

The fact that Amesha climbed over the fence puzzles me. (I am assuming that there wasn't any easy access like step down steps) Usually a Sri Lankan girl will not climb over fences above her waist. Being a tom boy, even I won’t climb over a fence like that in public because if someone did see me in the act I would be very embarrassed. It’s a cultural thing.

So I feel like she had some help to jump over the fence (maybe a lover) or she was in great fear for her life and was compelled to jump over or was motivated by the intention of suicide. I really don’t think she would climb over the fence just to bring milk and butter even it was a short cut to the grocery store.

 

[Oddsocks]

:seeya:Welcome happyfeet

 

[Oddsocks]

I am seriously confused at the lack of any updates.

 

[Keshi]

Hi Everyone

I have been following this thread for a couple of days now and finally thought of joining the discussion 
I am very concerned as to what happened to Amesha as I also live close by (about 5 mins away) and I am also a Sri Lankan girl.

The fact that Amesha climbed over the fence puzzles me. (I am assuming that there wasn't any easy access like step down steps) Usually a Sri Lankan girl will not climb over fences above her waist. Being a tom boy, even I won’t climb over a fence like that in public because if someone did see me in the act I would be very embarrassed. It’s a cultural thing.

So I feel like she had some help to jump over the fence (maybe a lover) or she was in great fear for her life and was compelled to jump over or was motivated by the intention of suicide. I really don’t think she would climb over the fence just to bring milk and butter even it was a short cut to the grocery store.

Welcome aboard happyfeet

Yes I thought the same. Generally most Lankan girls don't climb walls, and especially at night. It is a very cultural thing like you so rightly stated.

Somehow deep down I feel she was fleeing home from a tensed situation. Unfortunately that may mean suicide, or an accident while trying to desperately run away from someone/something that she no longer could cope with. It can happen. As humans, we can attempt to do things we've never done before when we are under severe mental pressure that forces us to push our boundaries. @ climbing the wall

Police also stated there were no physical injuries at the time her body was found. That to me sounded like she drowned herself or it was a fatal accident.

If someone killed her and put her in the creek, then why was she 'agitated' 12hrs before her body was found? Something/someone bothered her 12hrs before her body was found. That is the biggest piece of evidence here to work on. What is that something/who is that someone?

If someone killed Amesha, then that someone was the reason why she was pacing the foyer in and out that night. If so, who/what was she afraid of/worried about? The big question that we are all waiting to find the answers to.

 

[Keshi]

I am seriously confused at the lack of any updates.

Me too. Absolutely gobsmacked that today marks 1 week since Amesha's death and we haven't seen anything on the news apart from the same old articles from 5 days ago! I think the public has the right to know what is going on. And I'm pretty sure the police will release something soon. Maybe they are piecing together all the facts before they could make their inference public?

 

[MsAnais]

Welcome happyfeet!!

:welcome6:

I'm so grateful that all of you locals are joining us!!

And it is so fascinating to learn of the cultural issues. Thank you for sharing!!

 

[Keshi]

Welcome happyfeet!!

:welcome6:

I'm so grateful that all of you locals are joining us!!

And it is so fascinating to learn of the cultural issues. Thank you for sharing!!

You're most welcome Isisrising More than glad to help.

People must participate, reach out, contribute to a situation like this. If we can't help solve this, then what good is it being human. I wish more locals that knew Amesha personally could shed some light here as well. That would give us a lot to work with. Truth is very hard to find sometimes but it can never be buried. Truth will surface to the top sooner or later.

 

[happyfeet]

Thanks everyone for the welcome

 

[MsAnais]

You're most welcome Isisrising More than glad to help.

People must participate, reach out, contribute to a situation like this. If we can't help solve this, then what good is it being human. I wish more locals that knew Amesha personally could shed some light here as well. That would give us a lot to work with. Truth is very hard to find sometimes but it can never be buried. Truth will surface to the top sooner or later.

BBM (bolded by me) - I completely agree.

 

[happyfeet]

I am starting to think that this must be a suicide.

Correct me if Im wrong but I have noticed that the Australlian media drops coverage on cases like this once they learn its a suicide.(If the person is a celeb then its a different story!)

 

[MsAnais]

I am starting to think that this must be a suicide.

Correct me if Im wrong but I have noticed that the Australlian media drops coverage on cases like this once they learn its a suicide.(If the person is a celeb then its a different story!)

Yes, they do seem to go quiet when it's a suicide and news kind of just disappears.......I know they don't like publicising suicides due to it triggering other people who are contemplating suicide into taking action.

The silence in msm is indeed deafening.......

 

[MsAnais]

Poor Amesha. I feel really sad for her.

Obviously all was not well for her near the end of her life, whether this was suicide or murder.

Blessings to her. May she be at peace now.:rose:

 

[Keshi]

Poor Amesha. I feel really sad for her.

Obviously all was not well for her near the end of her life, whether this was suicide or murder.

Blessings to her. May she be at peace now.:rose:

Me too. Extremely saddened by how it all ended for her. If it was suicide, I really hope she left a note/letter. If she didn't, it's going to be hard to prove it's a suicide. The only way to find out is by figuring out what her life was like towards the final few months leading up to her death, if she was under stress or some other mental pressure, and who she confided to if there was anyone at all. Her father can help here a lot in that aspect, because he lived with her in that apartment. Also, anybody that Amesha associated in the last few months. Her GP if she ever had one.

 

[they'll get you]

We all carry burdens. Some problems are small and some are just too overwhelming. I've been there on both sides and but for the Grace of God go I.
In hindsight I wonder how in the hell did I get through some unscathed but I realise I stayed strong because my children needed me.
I wouldn't be strong enough to suicide so I took the 'easy' road and confronted the problem face on.
I wonder if Amesha couldn't find employment and was feeling defeated.

At the back of the complex at the car park there is a colour bond fence, then to the right of that looks like a mowed lawn area leading down to the creek. I can't find the picture but I wonder if that access is safety fenced.

 

[Xantara]

For anyone living in the complex, I wonder if the Security Manager is able to provide an update of some sort??

 

[they'll get you]

For anyone living in the complex, I wonder if the Security Manager is able to provide an update of some sort??

I agree! To ask if you and your children safe to walk & play inside and around this complex'

Is a reasonable question that deserves a simple answer.
I would have been hounding him for assurance!