Mystery over trany death
Police have released the name of the victim of a fatal stabbing incident in Darlinghurst in the early hours of Sunday morning, but much remains unknown about the circumstances leading up to the death. Lee Zainal, 46, from Indonesia, was discovered near the corner of Stanley and Crown Streets around 1:30am Sunday morning with a stab wound to the neck.
Zainal was treated at the scene but died later at St Vincent’s Hospital.Reports suggested Zainal was wearing a dress and wig, leading some to surmise that Zainal may have been engaged in street-based sex work.
Sex Workers Outreach Project executive officer Maria McMahon told Sydney Star Observer that Zainal was not known to SWOP through their outreach work, but the organisation was responding to the incident on the assumption that s/he had been engaged in street-based sex work. McMahon said there were reports of violence against trany sex workers in the area from time to time, but there had not been many such reports recently.
If someone is engaged in random attacks, workers are vulnerable, McMahon said. SWOP would be urging street workers to follow their gut instincts and look out for one another, she said.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the stabbing incident to contact Kings Cross Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
