Did family feud end in murder? Young female relative, 25, is charged with killing greyhound trainer
- Woman, 25, charged with the murder of a beloved greyhound racing trainer
- Karen Leek, 69, found about 10am last Tuesday at home south-east of Melbourne
- Detectives spent more than 30 hours combing Devon Meadows home for clues
- At the time of her death, Ms Leek had been caring for five-year-old great niece
- Police are probing her child care situation as part of investigation into her death
A young woman has been charged with the brutal murder of a beloved greyhound racing trainer who was found dead in her home.
Karen Leek, 69, was discovered dead at her property in Devons Meadow, south-east of Melbourne about 10am last Tuesday.
Victoria Police on Thursday morning arrested a 25-year-old woman from Berwick - who is believed to be a relative of Ms Leek - and charged her with the older woman's murder.
She will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Karen Leek, 69, was found dead at her home in Devons Meadow, south-east of Melbourne about 10am last Tuesday
Homicide detectives spent more than 30 hours combing the home for clues and a police helicopter was also used to examine the property.
At the time of her death, Ms Leek had been living and caring for her five-year-old great niece.
The 69-year-old was last seen alive about 5pm last Monday - 17 hours before her body was found.
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Police are probing the circumstances of Ms Leek's child care situation as part of their investigation into her death, The Herald Sun reported.
The 69-year-old's family said they have been kept in the dark by Victoria Police about the investigation.
'We don’t know what to do with it - we haven’t been told anything. We’re grieving,' relative Codie Moore said.
The 69-year-old was a pioneer in the racing industry and helped breed some of Australia's most successful greyhounds
A Specialised Trauma Cleaning services van is pictured entering the Devon Meadows home the day after Ms Leek's body was discovered
A friend of Ms Leek Angela Langton also said news of the murder charge was a relief because she 'hadn't heard anything' from police since her death.
Ms Leek was introduced to greyhound training and racing when she was just 13 and went on to be a leading pioneer in the sport.
She had helped breed some of Australia's superstar greyhounds including Bewildering, Moreira and Nolen.
Ms Leek (pictured front) had been caring for the five-year-old great niece at the time of her death
Ms Leek was introduced to greyhound training and racing when she was just 13 and went on to be a leading pioneer in the sport
Another friend, who is also the chair of Greyhound Racing Victoria, said the industry had been 'rocked' by Ms Leek's death.
'She was an amazing person, it's such a massive loss for us,' Peita Duncan told Nine News.
'It's devastating for our industry and it has rocked us to our core.'
