NSW: "Exemplary nurse" murdered on her own verandah

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2010
NSW: "Exemplary nurse" murdered on her own verandah

Eds: Fixes keyword and changes suburb on updated police information



SYDNEY, April 28 AAP - As she arrived home from a day at work, a senior nurse was callously
murdered on the verandah of her quiet Sydney home.

Police believe Michelle Beets may have disturbed a thief who then killed her.

Just before 6.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday two people walking their dog on Holland Street
at Chatswood found the woman dead after seeing a man run from the property.

Police have not officially identified her, but NSW Health has confirmed she was Ms
Beets, saying she was "a valued and esteemed colleague, friend and mentor".

"Michelle Beets, nurse manager of the emergency department, worked at Royal North Shore
Hospital for almost 25 years," it said in a statement.

"She was an exemplary nurse, a dear friend and teammate. We are devastated by her loss."

Police Superintendent Terence Dalton said she had suffered "some particularly callous
injuries which we won't be going into further at this stage".

"Police are seeking the assistance of the public who may have seen a male running from
the scene wearing what was described as a green jacket, possibly a hoodie, and also carrying
a backpack," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Ms Beets, who was aged in her 50s, lived with her partner, who was not home at the
time of the murder but who had since been spoken to by police, Supt Dalton said.

He declined to comment when asked if belongings were missing from Ms Beets or the house.

"It would appear that the attacker could have been disturbed by having people walking
past with the dog, because certainly after the murder has been committed, he has run off,"

Supt Dalton said.

He refused to comment on reports that Ms Beets had been stabbed, or if any weapons
had been found in the area.

He was not aware of reports of screaming at the time of the killing.

"Chatswood is, I would call, a low-crime area," Supt Dalton said.

"It is a good neighbourhood, it is safe and you don't expect this type of crime to
happen in this area."

AAP ad/wjf/ash/bwl

KEYWORD: VERANDAH UPDATE

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.