'Indian woman saw attacker approach her, begged for mercy'

The police are investigating if Prabha Arun Kumar's murder is related to the sex attacks in western Sydney last year. Natasha Chaku/PTI reports from Sydney.

The Indian woman IT professional, who was stabbed to death in a Sydney suburb, is believed to have seen her attacker approach and begged for mercy in her final moments, even as the police were investigating if the assault was related to the sex attacks last year.

Prabha Arun Kumar, 41, was stabbed to death in Parramatta Park in Westmead while she was on the telephone with her husband in India on Saturday, March 7. Her husband Arun Kumar, who traveled to Sydney from Bengalauru, was interviewed on Monday by the police over the content of that conversation.

Prabha's flatmate in Australia has spoken to Arun since his arrival in the country, and told a local television station what was said during the phone call.

"She saw he was approaching her and then he passed her and then suddenly she shouted 'Don't hurt me, I'll do whatever you want', and then she said in her native tongue that 'He stabbed me, he stabbed me'," she said.

"And then (her husband) could not hear anything."

According to the police, Prabha died after being slashed across the throat with a sharp-edged object.

The friend, on the condition of anonymity, urged the public to inform the police for any clues. The police are investigating if a series of sex attacks in western Sydney last year could be linked to Prabha's death, reports said.

Homicide Squad chief Detective Superintendent Michael Willing was quoted as saying that the police are talking to Arun about his final phone call to his wife to piece together her movements. He also confirmed other incidents in the area in recent months were being examined.

"I believe that over the preceding years there have been a number of incidents there (at the park)," Willing said. "We would consider that as part of the investigation, and indeed you would expect us to look at anything that has occurred in that geographical area in the days and months leading up to this matter; and we will certainly do that," he said.

"What we're hoping to do is jog the memory of anyone who was in the area on Saturday night and we encourage them to come forward and speak to police," he added.

The police has released CCTV images of Prabha leaving Parramatta railway station just before her death.