Authorities have advanced their investigation into the “suspicious” deaths of two sisters whose bodies were discovered in their Sydney apartment in 2022, Australian media report.
Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, who were originally from Saudi Arabia, were found dead in June 2022. At the time, investigators described the circumstances as “suspicious” and “unusual.”
In a significant development, the case has now been referred to the Crown Solicitor’s Office, which provides legal advice to the Australian government, according to news.com.au.
The sisters, who moved to Sydney in 2017, were discovered after their landlord alerted authorities that rent had not been paid for several months. Their bodies were found naked in separate rooms. Reports indicated that bottles containing toxic substances were located nearby, though officials have yet to issue a formal determination regarding the cause and manner of death.
The Crown Solicitor’s Office is now assisting the coroner as the investigation continues.
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Media reports also revealed that in the months before their deaths, the sisters appeared to be living in severe distress. They reportedly expressed fears that someone was following them and intended to harm them.
On one occasion, the sisters contacted building management requesting a review of security camera footage, believing their food delivery may have been tampered with, according to correspondence cited by news.com.au.
“Were they paranoid? Yes. Were they scared? Yes. Why? We don’t know,” a building management employee told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The source of their fears remains unclear. The sisters had been seeking asylum in Australia, with one reportedly claiming she had fled a forced marriage. They were also said to have attended a queer community meet-up, where discussions included concerns about threats faced by LGBTQ individuals in Saudi Arabia.
“They said women live in fear for their safety and that they were grateful to be living in Australia, where they could more freely express themselves,” an attendee previously told The Guardian.
