The “disturbing” murder of a woman in her home in Hoppers Crossing could be a random attack, police say.
It comes as details emerge that the woman – 48-year-old Prasad Somawansa – was killed within the short space of time that her 21-year-old son was away from their home on a call-out with the State Emergency Service.
Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey, who called the murder “disturbing”, said the woman suffered severe upper body trauma in her Barber Drive home.
There is no history of domestic violence within the family, who moved from Sri Lanka in 1999, known to police.
“This matter is extremely concerning for Victoria Police to have what may be a random attack, or a targeted attack, at this premises,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Bailey said the woman’s husband, a truck driver, had left Melbourne on Wednesday and driven to Brisbane.
He spoke to his wife about 8pm on Thursday and she was at home with their son, Wishhasad Somawansa, who is a medical student.
Son on SES call-out
After that phone call, Senior Sergeant Bailey said the son, also an SES volunteer, was called-out to a “police incident” in the local area that related to an affray.
Senior Sergeant Bailey said the husband tried to call his wife back between 8pm and 9.30pm and he wasn’t able to raise her.
POLICE FORENSICS OFFICERS AT THE SCENE. PICTURE: COURTESY OF NINE NEWS, VIA TWITTER
“He couldn’t get hold of his son so what he did was call an associate of his who works with him in the transport industry,” he said.
He said the associate went around to their home and found the door open and Ms Somawansa dead inside.
The friend then called the husband and then he tried to contact his son.
“It is unclear if he was contacted by the father and or whether he actually heard it through communications with the SES and as a result has come back to the premises here and found out that his mother has been murdered,” Senior Sergeant Bailey said.
“He’s obviously traumatised and he’s back with us at the police station assisting us with our inquiries.”
He said the son was not a suspect, and was assisting police with their inquiries.
Shocked husband flies home
The husband flew into Melbourne on Friday morning and was picked up by police at the airport. He remains with police giving them a statement.
“It’s a horrible situation and really disturbing for Victoria Police,” Senior Sergeant Bailey said.
He said the home was not ransacked, but it was not yet clear if anything had been taken.
He said forensic police would determine if the front door had been broken into or not.
Senior Sergeant Bailey would not comment on what caused the woman’s death, but said no weapon had been found in the house.
Wyndhamvale SES unit controller Laurie Russell said the woman’s son, Wishhasad Somawansa, was the controller of a group of five volunteers who were called-out about 8.30 to assist police with lighting following a brawl.
“We’ve got a member of out there assisting community and we’ve got some other mongrel back there belting his mother up,” Mr Russell said.
He said Mr Somawansa, known as ‘Wish’, was a dedicated volunteer who joined the unit two years ago and was quickly promoted to unit officer.
“You ask him to do something, he’ll do it,” he said.
He said Mr Somawansa was close to his parents and the SES would rally around their member.
“We have enormous support mechanisms in the SES and that will swing into action,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Bailey urged anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact police.
“Our window of opportunity is anytime between 8 o’clock and 9.25, so we’re appealing for public assistance for any movement here in Barber Drive anytime between 8 o’clock and 9.25,” he said.
By Tammy Mills, Marissa Calligeros, The Age
