A 48-year-old Sri Lankan -Vissa Esan- was stabbed to death outside his real estate business in Pendle Hill, Sydney’s west on Thursday morning, Australian media reports said.
His wife, who is pregnant with the couple's first child, was at the hospital. A shattered Shanika Madushani will welcome a child without her husband Vissa Esan, who was yesterday stabbed to death outside his real estate business.
Several months pregnant Ms Madushani, 28, was inconsolable yesterday as tributes poured in for the community-minded Pendle Hill real estate agent. The 47-year-old was stabbed in the laneway behind his business, Aussie Unity Real Estate, about 7.30am. A Toongabbie man, 33, was arrested less than 1km away, after allegedly washing blood off himself in front of workers at a cement company.
The man was taken to Cumberland Hospital for a mental health assessment before being taken back for questioning. He was later charged with murder and will appear in court today.
Police believe the attack was random.
A devastated Ms Madushani, who had been married to Mr Esan for just two years, was comforted by her husband’s sister Greetha and father before returning to the couple’s Kellyville home.
“They are very upset. They have still not come out of the shock,” one friend said.
Inspector Adam Phillips said Mr Esan and his alleged attacker did not know each other, and the attack was unrelated to the business.
“There is heaps of CCTV. It appears nothing more than a minor incident that has escalated way out of hand,” Insp Phillips said.
Acting Superintendent Ian Casha said there was an extensive search for the “sharp object” used in the incident but police had failed to find it by yesterday afternoon.
Cousin Pushperany Canagasundaram said Mr Esan, born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, was one of eight children. “He was very kind. It’s very sad,” she said.
Friend Srikumar Siva said the Tamil community was trying to make sense of the death. “I am sweating and shaking. It’s totally shocking,” he said.
Work colleagues yesterday morning sat grimly at the crime scene just metres from where Mr Esan was stabbed.
Colleague John said they were all in shock.
“He was left lying there with his wounds in a pool of blood, he had passed away in the ambulance,” he said.
“He was a really popular guy and community leader. He was very kind-hearted and helped all his fellow Tamil people. We all loved him, he was a great guy.”
He said Mr Esan, who migrated more than 20 years ago, helped new arrivals from Sri Lanka settle in.