Heartbroken best friend of Michaela Dunn killed in Sydney knife attack pays tribute to her

The best friend of a 24-year-old woman brutally murdered inside a Sydney apartment allegedly by a crazed knifeman has posted a moving tribute to her ‘other half’. 

Michaela Dunn was found dead about 3.15 on Tuesday afternoon, just over an hour after Mert Ney, 20, allegedly caused chaos on Sydney streets, stabbing Linda Bo, 41, in the back.

Her friend Ashleigh shared her grief with friends, telling them: ‘My world has been taken away from me.’

‘My other half, my best friend and the love of my life. No words are able to describe the light you were, not just to me – but everyone.

‘You were the most beautiful person, inside and out. You would brighten up anywhere you went just by your presence; and now the world is truly a much darker place.

‘I love you Miks, so much. Thank you for forever being by my side, and just always for being you. I can’t believe you’re not here.

‘This is something I will never be able to recover from. I don’t know how to breathe without you.’

The best friend of Michaela Dunn has shared a moving tribute to the 24-year-old who bwas murdered in a Sydney apartment on Tuesday

Ashleigh (left) told friends she didn't know how she would go on without her best friend, who she said was a 'light to everyone'

Ashleigh (left) told friends she didn’t know how she would go on without her best friend, who she said was a ‘light to everyone’

Ms Dunn attended Rosebank College, a Catholic school in the inner west, was studying marketing and public relations at the University of Notre Dame and had one sister. 

Before she began sex work, she was a duty manager at Tenpin City – a job she picked up while at high school.

Her mother Joanne told Nine News Ms Dunn was a ‘beautiful, loving woman who had studied at university and travelled widely’. She also said the young woman was ‘very much loved’.

She said the pair would see each other every week, when Ms Dunn would visit her mother and leave with packed lunches.   

‘I just keep thinking, I’m never going to be able to hold my baby girl again, I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ she said. 

‘I waited until I was 40 to have her, and I loved her so much.’

Police believe Ms Dunn was a sex worker and Ney had been her client earlier in the day, having made an appointment to see her at 1.30pm.

Ney was seen on CCTV footage leaving the building at 1.50pm, and police allege he killed her before fleeing the block in a blood-soaked jumper and causing chaos through the streets of Sydney.

Pedestrians were seen running in terror as the bloodied man allegedly charged through the street wielding a large knife and yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’.

Ney was eventually detained at about 2pm as heroic workers from nearby offices made a citizens’ arrest, and police were soon on the scene.

A spokeswoman for NSW police told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday Ney remained in hospital under police guard, and had not yet been charged.

Ms Dunn was found dead in an apartment on Clarence Street in Sydney about 3.15 on Tuesday. Police believe she was murdered by alleged Sydney knifeman Mert Ney, 20

Ms Dunn was found dead in an apartment on Clarence Street in Sydney about 3.15 on Tuesday. Police believe she was murdered by alleged Sydney knifeman Mert Ney, 20

Mert Ney is accused of killing a woman before running through the Sydney CBD with a large knife and stabbing another. He was restrained by civilians and firefighters using a crowbar, a chair and a crate (pictured)

Mert Ney is accused of killing a woman before running through the Sydney CBD with a large knife and stabbing another. He was restrained by civilians and firefighters using a crowbar, a chair and a crate (pictured)

Ney, 20, remains in hospital under police guard, and is yet to be charged

Ney, 20, remains in hospital under police guard, and is yet to be charged

Ms Dunn is pictured having dinner with best friend Ashleigh just a week before her tragic death

Ms Dunn is pictured having dinner with best friend Ashleigh just a week before her tragic death

Ms Dunn has been remembered as ‘incredible’ by Joan Westenberg, who said she first met Ms Dunn when she was a 14-year-old ‘kid’ in high school. Ms Westenberg dated Ms Dunn’s sister for six years.

‘Mikki was like my baby sister. I cannot describe how sad and how broken I am at this moment,’ she wrote on social media.

‘I loved this kid. She was incredible.’

‘I am angry that male violence has taken another victim. Selfishly I am so angry that the victim is a young woman I deeply respected and cared about. Mikki was a true delight to know.’

Ms Westenberg also said Ms Dunn ‘deserved to be safe while she worked’, adding that ‘sex work is work’.

‘Her job does not make her a lurid story. She was a person and she is now gone.’

Police believe Ms Dunn was a sex worker, and had arranged to see Ney as a client at 1.30 on Tuesday

Her body was found about 3.15pm - little more than an hour after Ney allegedly stabbed a second woman in the back

Police believe Ms Dunn was a sex worker, and had arranged to see Ney as a client at 1.30 on Tuesday.  Her body was found about 3.15pm – little more than an hour after Ney allegedly stabbed a second woman in the back

Ms Dunn was remembered as 'incredible' by Joan Westenberg, who said she first met Ms Dunn when she was a 14-year-old 'kid' in high school. Ms Westenberg dated Ms Dunn's sister for six years

Ms Dunn was remembered as ‘incredible’ by Joan Westenberg, who said she first met Ms Dunn when she was a 14-year-old ‘kid’ in high school. Ms Westenberg dated Ms Dunn’s sister for six years

In recent years, Ms Dunn used her social media profile to comment on sexual violence, sharing a petition in 2016 while saying ‘sexual violence and harassment is never acceptable’. 

Her high school principal remembered her as a ‘highly successful’ student who was a role model to others. 

Tom Galea, principal of Rosebank College in Five Dock, said in a statement Ms Dunn graduated in 2012, and her death would have a strong impact on many people.  

‘The College remembers Michaela as a highly successful and much valued student,’ he said.

‘She was one of four Social Justice Captains in her graduating year and an accomplished student with a passionate commitment to excellence.

‘Michaela is fondly remembered as a well-respected, conscientious and highly motivated student who was an active member of the Rosebank community.

‘She was seen as a mature, resilient young woman and a positive role model … The loss of someone so young, particularly as a result of such senseless violence, will, undoubtedly, have a huge impact on everyone.’ 

Ms Dunn was a social justice captain at her high school, which she graduated from in 2012, and is remembered by the principal as a successful student who was a positive role model for others

Ms Dunn was a social justice captain at her high school, which she graduated from in 2012, and is remembered by the principal as a successful student who was a positive role model for others

 

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