Detectives investigating the horrific acid murder of a Sydney woman, four years ago, now believe she knew her attackers and had feared for her life, NSW Police say.
39-year-old Monika Chetty, a qualified nurse, was found on Friday 3 January 2014, lying in a bushland reserve at West Hoxton, suffering chemical burns to 80 per cent of her body.
She died 28 days later in the burns unit at Concord Hospital.
Investigators have now formed the opinion that Ms Chetty knew who attacked her and had been living in fear.
"We have been focussing on Ms Chetty’s behaviour and movements in the lead-up to her death," Liverpool City Crime Manager, Dean Johnstone, said.
"Homeless since the breakdown of her marriage and estrangement from her children some time earlier, Ms Chetty repeatedly refused offers of help from those she encountered, only seeking cash," Detective Chief Inspector Johnstone said.
"Strangers would constantly offer her a bed or a meal but she shunned that assistance.
"We believe she was under some sort of pressure to provide money to someone else at the risk of being harmed," Detective Chief Inspector Johnstone said.
"Imagine the pain of a highly corrosive acid, possibly hydrochloric, being thrown on most of your face and body," Detective Chief Inspector Johnstone said.
"Monika held on in agony for more than a month before her body gave out.
"We have to find whoever did this.
"This is a personal crime of extreme violence which adds to our belief that she knew who did this to her.
Detectives also believe Ms Chetty deliberately misled them about aspects of the attack.
"Monika told us the attack occurred in Bigge Park at Liverpool.
"We’ve been over that location in extreme detail and we doubt that version of events.
"The forensic examination of the park came up empty," Detective Chief Inspector Johnstone explained.
"Given the agony she would have been in, a more plausible account would be that she was attacked near where she was found, lying in a bush reserve in Ferraro Crescent, West Hoxton, and she may have lied about the location for fear of reprisals.
Police from the Liverpool City PAC, the South West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and Polair returned to the West Hoxton site on Friday to re-examine the area.
"The evidence points to the attack occurring at least a week prior to her discovery and the horrific nature of her injuries would have impeded her travel.
"She would have been in overwhelming pain but did not seek medical treatment before she was found in the reserve," he said.
"Something or someone has prevented her from contacting emergency services, despite the fact she was dying."
Police would like to hear from anyone with information about the case, particularly any residents living near the reserve or members of Sydney’s Fijian-Indian community who may be able to assist the investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
