Three men have been charged with murder after allegedly taking part in the “kill crew” that executed a 45-year-old woman from suburban Sydney.
Thi Kim Tran’s body was found bound and gagged in the back of a burnt-out SUV in the city’s south-west on 17 April.
Investigators believe a man connected to her was involved with a Victoria-based crime gang that thought he had stolen up to 80kg of drugs from the syndicate.
On the day of the alleged murder, the accused hitmen tried to draw him out and recover the drugs, according to police.
After failing to pin down his location, the alleged hitmen donned dark clothing, covered their faces and stormed into a Bankstown home armed with at least one baseball bat, investigators said.
Tran was allegedly dragged out, stripped naked, bound and bundled into their vehicle, which sped off.
Further attempts to rouse the man were made over an encrypted messaging platform, police allege, and an image of Tran was sent.
But after 40 minutes without a response, the trio allegedly executed their hostage and set alight the vehicle with her in it in nearby Beverly Hills, according to detectives.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
Tran had not been aware of the man’s alleged dealings, Det Supt Joe Doueihi said.
The group also allegedly assaulted an eight-year-old boy with a baseball bat as the incident unfolded.
He was expected to sustain lifetime injuries, but had recovered “really well psychologically”, Doueihi said.
A 15-year-old boy, who was also present at the time, was taken to hospital for assessment.
Following extensive investigations, the three men who detectives allege were part of Tran’s “kill team” walked into Parramatta police station on Thursday and were arrested.
Each was charged with murder and other offences, including conspiring to murder the man connected to Tran and seriously wounding the eight-year-old.
after newsletter promotion
The identities of the men, aged 20 to 32, cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.
They were allegedly “guns for hire” and “very well known to police” with links to criminal groups, Doueihi said.
“They go out, they purchase the kill kit, they purchase clothing, they purchase whatever else they require to complete their task,” he alleged.
“They prostitute themselves to whoever pays the biggest amount.”
The men were remanded in custody after a brief court mention on Friday, with the case due to return to court on 17 November.
Police have not caught the person who ordered the hit, but they are believed to hold a high position in the criminal organisation.
It is unclear whether the order was made from overseas or within Australia’s borders.
A fourth man, 29, was charged in August with murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm over the same alleged attack. He remains before the court.
