After being stabbed through the heart during a break-in gone wrong inside his southwestern Sydney home, a bloodied man desperately clung to life as he told his mother, ‘I’m going to die, mum,’ a court has been told.
Three men and two women are facing trial, accused of playing roles in the alleged murder of Luke Lembryk, with the court hearing the fatal incident had its origins in a cocaine-fuelled Tinder party.
Luke Lembryk, 29, died after being stabbed through the heart at his Condell Park apartment in the early hours of December 7, 2019.
Joseph Nehme, Bilal Rahim, Viliami Taufahema, Lisa Anne Price and Sherene Rizk are standing trial over their alleged roles in Mr Lembryk’s killing.
On the opening day of their trial on Tuesday, the court heard that months earlier in August 2019, the 29-year-old matched with Ms Price via Tinder.
Luke Lembryk, 29, (pictured) had been staying with his mother in Condell Park when he was allegedly murdered
It’s alleged Ms Price and another woman went to the unit where all three did lines of cocaine and drank.
‘During the conversation, the deceased pulled out what could be termed a wad, or wads, of cash,’ Crown prosecutor Chris Taylor told the court on Tuesday.
The Crown has alleged Mr Lembryk was showing off stacks of about $10,000 to $15,000 and the women saw further money in a blazer on the back of his door.
Ms Price left the room as Mr Lembryk and the other woman had sex, the court heard.
From August to September, Ms Price mentioned to the other woman that they should ‘do this guy over’, the Crown has alleged.
The court heard that meanwhile in December 2019, police were lawfully intercepting Mr Nehme’s phone.
The court heard that he expressed to Mr Taufahema in one call: ‘What are we going to do? I need money, bro. I’m broke.’
On the evening of December 6, Mr Nehme was at Ms Rizk’s residence in southern Sydney along with Ms Price.
The Crown prosecution said they would rely on phone calls made by Mr Nehme – in which Ms Price and Ms Rizk can be heard in the background – discussing robbing Mr Lembryk.
The court heard that in a police interview, Ms Rizk had admitted to taping a knife to Mr Nehme.
Around 1.45am, Mr Nehme, Mr Taufahema and Mr Rahim met near Mr Lembryk’s home.
It’s alleged police also intercepted a phone call in which Ms Price – having previously been to the apartment – gave a detailed description and guided Mr Nehme to the unit.
Paramedics arriving at the scene on the morning after Luke Lembryk was stabbed inside his mother’s home at Condell Park in western Sydney in December, 2019
Sherene Rizk (pictured out side the NSW Supreme Court) has pleaded not guilty over her alleged role in the murder of Luke Lembryk
It’s alleged Mr Nehme and Mr Taufahema entered via a loungeroom window when the fatal confrontation occurred.
‘In the premises, the deceased was confronted and he was stabbed a number of times,’ Mr Taylor told the court.
Mr Nehme, Mr Rahim, Mr Taufahema and Ms Price have all pleaded not guilty to murder.
Mr Rahim has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault with intent to rob in company.
Ms Rizk has pleaded not guilty to the offence of being accessory before the fact to murder.
Mr Taufahema has pleaded guilty to break and enter in company with intent to steal while in company.
Ms Price and Mr Rahim have pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
Mr Lembryk’s mother, who has since died due to an unrelated illness, was woken by a loud banging and as she came out of her bedroom slowly, she was punched a number of times and thrown into a wall.
She saw her son hunched over, covered in blood and holding his stomach.
As he collapsed, the court heard he told her: ‘I’m going to die, mum. I’m going to die.’
Mr Lembryk died as a result of the stab wound which penetrated his heart.
The trial before Justice Richard Button continues.
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