Hunt on in Sydney for New Zealand nurse's killer

Police search through a bin near where Michelle Beets was killed. Photo / Hunter Brad

SYDNEY - Police are hunting a man seen running from a property where a New Zealand-born nurse was believed to have been stabbed to death in north Sydney yesterday.

Michelle Beets, 58, who worked at the Royal North Shore Hospital's accident and emergency department, was found on the patio of her home about 6.20pm after neighbours reported hearing screaming.

Police superintendent Terence Dalton said two residents walking their dog past Ms Beets property stumbled across the killer while he was still near the body.

"It would appear the attacker could have been disturbed by the people walking past with the dog because certainly after the murder has been committed he has run off," he said.

The residents said the man was wearing a green jumper, possibly with a hood, and he had a backpack.

Police would not confirm the nature of Ms Beets injuries but it is understood she had been stabbed.

It is believed Ms Beets had just returned home from work to the house she shared with de facto partner David Grant when she was attacked, possibly by a burglar.

Ms Beets' elder brother Marty described her as "reserved and quiet" but someone who "didn't take any nonsense".

Mr Beets, who lives in Auckland, said police told him her shed door had been "jimmied or mucked around with".

Tributes poured in as her family prepared to fly to Sydney for the funeral.

Deputy director of Royal North Shore Hospital's emergency department Robert Day told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that the department had lost a "friend and a leader".

Ms Beets had worked in the emergency department for 25 years, including for the past 10 as the nurse unit manager.

"We know very few of the details about what happened but it makes little sense to us," Dr Day said.

"We see a lot of tragedies in the emergency department but this is very close to us."

Assistant secretary of the NSW Nurses' Association Judith Kieja said Ms Beets was an active member of the union and her colleagues were "pretty devastated" about her death.

"She was a member of ours and we did consult her on issues relating to the nursing workforce."

Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner said Ms Beets dedicated her life to helping others and was a passionate advocate for nurses and patients.

"Michelle Beets was a dedicated nurse of 40 years experience, 25 of them carried out at Royal North Shore Hospital," she said in a statement.

"She spoke passionately at a parliamentary inquiry about the need for more nurses, and was a strong advocate for having the right mix of experienced and junior nurses in our hospital wards.

"Michelle Beets will be remembered as a passionate nurse advocate whose primary concern was doing the best for her patients."

- NZPA