Three men allegedly part of a “kill crew” have been charged with the brutal murder of Bankstown woman, Thi Kim Tran who was kidnapped from her home, stripped naked, and shot dead earlier this year.
Police allege that 45-year-old Tran was abducted at gunpoint by a group of masked men around 10:30am on April 17, taken from her Western Sydney home, and forced into an SUV.
An hour later, Tran’s remains were discovered inside a burnt-out car on Welfare Avenue in Beverly Hills. Investigators believe she was shot dead before the vehicle was set alight.
An eight-year-old boy was also assaulted during the incident, suffering serious injuries after being attacked with a baseball bat. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
Following months of investigation, Strike Force Bushfield detectives arrested three men — aged 30, 22, and 21 — at Parramatta police station on Thursday morning.
They have each been charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping in company, and participation in a criminal group.
In August, police charged another man who allegedly lured Ms Tran’s killers to her home, knocked on her door, and stood aside as the group stormed inside and abducted her.
Investigators allege the three men charged this week were part of a hired “kill crew” contracted to assassinate Ms Tran’s husband, who had reportedly fallen out with the Victorian branch of a Vietnamese drug cartel.
Police have previously said the crime group believed Ms Tran’s husband had stolen drugs from them.
Last week, Organised Crime Squad Commander Peter Faux said there were “potentially some links” between Tran’s death and recent raids on safe houses tied to a South-East Asian organised crime syndicate, where more than half a tonne of drugs was seized.
He also noted it was “highly likely” the case is connected to an assassination attempt foiled by police at a Condell Park daycare on October 8.
Police will provide further updates as the investigation continues.