'Clearly targeted': Police make major claim about husband after Bankstown mum brutally murdered and son bashed with baseball bat

Sky News AU

22-04-2025

NSW Police have claimed a Sydney mother and her children were likely targets of a violent crime due to her partner's links to an organised criminal network, after she was allegedly kidnapped from her home and brutally murdered last week.
Thi Kim Tran, 45, was at home with her two sons when armed intruders stormed the residence on Edward Street, Bankstown about 10.30pm on Thursday.
An eight-year-old boy was bashed around the head with a baseball bat, while his mother was seriously assaulted by the armed male intruders.
The 45-year-old was then forced into the back seat of an SUV, which was driven from the scene.
A body believed to be that of the Tran's was later discovered in a burnt-out vehicle about a 10-minute drive from the house.
Those living near the home said they awoke to " blood-curdling" screams which "sounded like someone was about to die".
On Tuesday, Superintendent Doueihi told reporters Ms Tran was not known to police and had no previous criminal history.
However, her partner had links to an organised crime group and was known to police for minor drug offences.
Superintendent Doueihi said the tragic murder was "clearly targeted" and was a 'brutal and callous' attack.
"This level of violence against innocent family members is rare and unprecedented,'' he said.
'These offences are clearly targeted offences … against innocent people."
Police further revealed they are currently investigating a "conflict" between Ms Tran's partner and the crime group, which they believe was the main reason for the violent attack.
'We are investigating a conflict between the male partner … and other members of the organised crime group,' he said.
Ms Tran and her two children reportedly had no knowledge of her partner's connection to the group.
No charges have yet been laid against Ms Tran's partner and Sky News makes no suggestions he was involved in or had any knowledge of the attack.
The organised crime network Ms Tran's partner was allegedly involved with is reportedly running a "large-scale drug manufacturing" operation based in Victoria, according to NSW Police.
Superintendent Doueihi said the majority of the group members were "mainly Vietnamese males' but claimed there was 'no information or evidence to suggest that the upper echelons of the organised crime group are linked to South-East Asian crime groups'.
He further revealed NSW Police is working with Victoria Police and raided an alleged drug lab in Springdallah on Saturday, where they located and seized "items consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs".
Tran's eight-year-old son remains in an induced coma in hospital following the violent attack.
NSW Homicide Squad Superintendent Joe Doueihi revealed the boy is in a stable condition and expected to awake from the coma on Tuesday, but he may suffer 'long-life complications' due to his injuries.
His 15-year-old brother did not suffer any physical injuries during the attack, but was severely psychologically affected and remains in hospital undergoing treatment.
During a press conference on Friday, Detective Superintendent Rodney Hart said the well-being and safety of the children was "paramount" in light of the "horrendous" crime.
"I can only imagine what those children went through seeing the woman dragged out of the home and forced into the back of the car," he said.
A manhunt remains ongoing for those involved in the horrific abduction and murder, with police urging anyone who witnessed the incident or with CCTV footage to come forward.