Police have arrested a man wanted for questioning over the death of Bellambi mother Kristie Powell.
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Detectives from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District took 29-year-old Bhanu Kirkman into custody at Maitland about 4pm Monday. The Mercury understands police were acting on a tip-off when they found him under a railway bridge. He was arrested on outstanding warrants for multiple alleged offences.
Wollongong detectives investigating Ms Powell’s death were on their way to interview him, later Monday.
A friend found Ms Powell deceased at her Lorking St home about 1.10am Friday.
Earlier this year, the single mum had raised concerns with various people about a potential stalker. In May she told Facebook friends a man had "become obsessed with me". "I have contacted the police about him on a few occasions but there is nothing that they can really do as he is considered non-threatening!?" she wrote. “Even though most of his messages say 'die Kristie die', he doesn't approach me or my house, he just calls me or sends me messages (sometimes I get over 100 a day!)".
A spokesman for Wollongong Police District said police had received no reports from Ms Powell.
“There were no official reports to police,” he said.
But Ms Powell's mother, Debbie Powell believes her daughter attended a police station, accompanied by a friend, to report her concerns. "She did. I didn't go with her, but she told me she did and her best girlfriend told me she did and her best girlfriend told me she took her," Mrs Powell said.
"She told me that she was being stalked and they [police] said 'look, he's harmless, he hasn't approached you'."
Mrs Powell added that police investigating her daughter's death had "been marvelous".