Text messages allegedly sent before the 'violent' kidnapping and murder of Sydney mother Thi Kim Tran have been revealed in court. The messages, sent by a man accused of being part of a 'kill crew,' were disclosed during a bail hearing at the Supreme Court of NSW on Wednesday.
Details of the Alleged Kidnapping and Murder
Thi Kim Tran was allegedly snatched from her Bankstown home on April 17, 2025, before being murdered. Her body was later discovered inside a burnt-out car on Welfare Avenue in Beverly Hills. Police have previously indicated that she may have been targeted due to her husband's alleged involvement with an organized crime network based in Victoria.
Several individuals have been charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder since October last year. Among them is Anthony Wong, 22, who faces charges including one count of murder and two counts of conspiracy to murder.
Court Revelations
Acting Justice Robert Allan Hulme summarized the police facts in Mr. Wong's case on Wednesday. He stated that four people were allegedly sent to a Springdallah property in Victoria's southwest on April 16 or 17 last year. However, Ms. Tran and her husband 'got wind of something occurring' and fled the property just before the group arrived.
About an hour after the group arrived in Springdallah, Mr. Wong is accused of sending a message saying 'Melbourne mates are fked.' Hours later, around 9 pm, he allegedly sent another text: 'Bro it's the wife.'
Mr. Wong, then 21, is accused of picking up three men in his mother's Mercedes shortly after and dropping them off in Moorebank. The trio allegedly met another person before the four made their way to Ms. Tran's home. Mr. Wong was allegedly waiting in Cabramatta as the kidnapping and murder unfolded.
Violent Circumstances
'In violent circumstances it is alleged that the wife was kidnapped, she was stripped naked, and taken to the car,' Justice Hulme said. 'Intimidating photos were taken of her and sent to her husband in Victoria. (The group) with the woman in their custody went to Welfare Avenue ... this is where she was murdered, (probably) shot in the head. The car in which they had travelled there (in) was set on fire with her inside.'
Mr. Wong allegedly later picked up the same trio from a Cabramatta address and gave them a lift to Prestons, where they exited the vehicle. The four alleged offenders in Victoria left the Springdallah address around this time and returned to Sydney the following day.
Bail Denied
Justice Hulme noted that the prosecution case against Mr. Wong for the alleged murder appeared 'viable' but called the success of the conspiracy to murder case 'somewhat doubtful.' However, he denied bail, stating that 'the seriousness of these charges overwhelms the persuasiveness of Mr. Wong's bail application.'
Crown prosecutor Caroline Ervin argued that Mr. Wong was 'clearly aware' of what his alleged co-offenders were up to, citing the text messages. 'Here is a 21-year-old man ... who has been charged with involving himself in a murder that goes beyond just being in that vehicle because there are those messages that clearly shows he was aware of what was happening in Melbourne,' she said.
Mr. Wong's lawyer, Gabrielle Bashir SC, denied that her client had any awareness of the actions of his alleged co-offenders, describing his involvement as a 'drop off and pick up service to locations.' She also argued there was no evidence he was trying to flee the country when arrested at Sydney Airport in January.
Mr. Wong has not yet entered pleas to charges including murder, conspiracy to murder, participating in a criminal group, and failing to comply with digital evidence access orders. He also faces additional charges related to dealing with proceeds of crime and supplying an unregistered firearm.
Four people were previously charged over the alleged kidnapping and murder, with an additional five men accused of being involved in a 'second kill crew' also charged. All remain before the courts.
