‘Kill crew’ allegedly sent photo of kidnapped Sydney woman before murdering her, police say | Sydney

Three men have been charged with murder for allegedly being part of a “kill squad” that executed a 45-year-old woman in a Sydney suburb.

Thi Kim Tran’s body was found bound and gagged in the back of a burned SUV in the southwestern part of the city on April 17.

Investigators believe a man linked to him was involved in a Victoria-based criminal gang who thought he had stolen up to 80kg of drugs from the syndicate.

According to police, on the day of the alleged murder, the accused hitmen tried to take him out and take back the drugs.

Investigators said the suspects, who were unable to pinpoint their location, wore dark clothing, covered their faces and broke into a Bankstown home with at least one baseball bat.

It was alleged that Tran was dragged out, stripped naked, tied up and put into the car, and the vehicle sped away.

Police allege further attempts were made to wake the man and an image of Tran was sent via an encrypted messaging platform.

However, when there was no response for 40 minutes, the trio allegedly executed the hostage and set the vehicle he was in on fire near Beverly Hills, according to detectives.

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Det Supt Joe Doueihi said Tran was unaware of the man’s alleged dealings.

The group also allegedly attacked an eight-year-old boy with a baseball bat as the incident unfolded.

Doueihi said he was expected to be disabled for life but was recovering “psychologically in a really good way.”

A 15-year-old boy who was present at the time was also taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Following extensive investigations, three men who detectives allege were part of Tran’s “hit team” walked into Parramatta police station on Thursday and were arrested.

They were each charged with murder and other crimes, including conspiracy to kill the man linked to Tran and seriously injuring the eight-year-old boy.

The identities of the men, aged between 20 and 32, cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.

Doueihi said they were allegedly “guns for hire” and were “very well known to the police” with links to criminal groups.

“They go out, they buy the kill kit, they buy clothes, they buy everything they need to complete their mission,” he claimed.

“They prostitute themselves to whoever pays the biggest amount of money.”

The men were taken into custody after a brief appearance in court on Friday and the case is expected to return to court on November 17.

Police were unable to catch the person who ordered the attack, but he is believed to be in a senior position in the criminal organisation.

It is unclear whether the order was placed abroad or within Australian borders.

A fourth man, 29, was charged in August with murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for the same alleged attack. He remains before the court.