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Amelia Blake, 22, was found dead in Sydney with Brazil Gurung
Amelia Blake, 22, was found dead in the Newtown suburb of Sydney last Friday in a suspected murder-suicide.
Friends of her suspected murderer-boyfriend, Brazil Gurung, revealed that he regularly took the class A drug and became irate when he realised Ms Blake had planned to leave Australia.
His friend, Mercedez Brionnes, 23, was manager of the Sydney restaurant where both Ms Gurung and Ms Blake met.
She said the former chef at the Fogo Brazilia Churrasco restaurant feared becoming homeless and described his life as a “living nightmare”.
He was also reportedly drowning in debt and using drugs to cope.
Another friend revealed that he may have been married and getting a divorce while dating his British girlfriend.
Ms Brionnes said: “Brazil was at the end of his rope. He was struggling with money issues, supporting his ex-wife, paying for his visa, and had no one for support.
“I know he was doing cocaine. I’m not sure if he did that night but I think it could have driven him to do what he did. He was probably using other stuff on the side.
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The restaurant in Sydney where Briton Amelia Blake was found dead in a flat above
“Brazil was very lonely, he had no family or anyone there for him, so when she told him she was leaving he couldn’t stand it and became passionately angry.
“We were close friends, and the last time we spoke he said his life was a living nightmare, he had his visa and so many things to pay off with his rent, studies and visa.”
Ms Brionnes described Mr Gurung as being “obsessed” with his girlfriend. She added that he was “very depressed”.
According to Australian media, the couple had lived in the flat in King Street for several months and police believe Mr Gurung murdered Ms Blake before killing himself.
Emergency services were called to the scene three miles south-west of the city centre at around 5.30pm last Friday after concerns were raised for the welfare of a man and a woman at the property.
Police said: “Police attended and discovered the bodies of a woman, aged in her 20s, and a man, aged in his 30s.”
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Friends also paid tribute on Facebook, with Ellie Mackness saying she made her smile
New South Wales Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths and toxicology reports would be conducted.
Newtown, the suburb that flanks King Street, is known for having a youthful and diverse population.
The area is popular with backpackers and foreign visitors attracted by its nightlife, cafes and cheaper rents.
A neighbour, who only gave his name as Angelo, said: “I’d guess there were four to six people living in there, I see the owner once every blue moon when he comes to collect rent or whatever.
“I feel sorry for the girl. My first reaction was ‘she’s 22? A bit young to be on her own’.”
Ms Blake, from Loughborough, in Leicestershire, had been travelling around Australia, recently working on a fruit farm in Victoria, and had reportedly been planning to set off travelling Vietnam.
Her devastated family said they were “deeply shocked and saddened” by her death.
In a statement issued through the Foreign Office, her parents Chris and Sharon said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our much loved daughter and sister Amelia, who will be truly missed by all who knew her.
“We would like to thank everyone for the love and support shown to our family.
“As we try to come to terms with losing our beautiful girl, we would very much appreciate privacy at this extremely difficult time.”
Friends also paid tribute on Facebook, with Ellie Mackness saying: “Whenever I saw her she always made me smile or laugh.
“She was the most warm hearted, bubbly, loving and down to earth women I knew.”