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 arrested Bhanu Kirkman, 29, 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, including fraud, resisting an officer, possess prohibited drug and custody of a knife in a public place.
She told me that she was being stalked and they [police] said 'look, he's harmless, he hasn't approached you'.
Wollongong detectives investigating Ms Powell’s death were on their way to interview him, late Monday afternoon.
Police were called to 39-year-old Ms Powell's Lorking Street 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 she was being stalked by a man, who 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 physically 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 told the Mercury on Monday.
"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".
She said her family had not had any contact with Mr Kirkman in the past.
"All we know is he's a person of interest at the moment," she said. "It won't change our problem."
Ms Powell left behind a five-month-old baby boy, Slater, who has now been placed in the care of relatives.
Mrs Powell said her grandson was: "great. He's doing really well. He's in a family that love him and care for him greatly."
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Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
