Apartment block neighbours in Sydney‘s exclusive eastern suburbs have fondly remembered a 90-year-old woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by her grandson as a ‘nice, quiet woman’.
Valentina Spivak, 90, was stabbed multiple times inside her unit on Chambers Avenue at Bondi Beach about 5.15pm on Saturday.
Shocked neighbours recalled Ms Spivak as a reserved and gentle woman.
Caroline Engesser remembered the grandmother often listened to old Russian opera that could be heard drifting from her small apartment.
‘She seemed pretty nice,’ Ms Engesser said.
Another neighbour, George Clifton, said: ‘Nothing bad to say about her, to be honest.
‘She was a nice woman.’
Ms Spivak was found inside her home with multiple stab wounds to her torso and throat. NSW Police officers performed CPR but were unable to revive her.
Valentina Spivak (above) died after suffering multiple stab wounds to her torso and throat
Ms Spivak’s grandson, Sergei Mitnik (pictured during his arrest), is accused of killing his grandmother inside her unit at Bondi Beach
Her grandson, Sergei Mitnik, was arrested at the scene.
He has since been charged with domestic violence-related murder.
The 47-year-old’s lawyer told a bail court on Sunday that his client was suffering from mental health issues and was taking Ozempic.
‘He states to me that Ozempic had an effect on him as a result of the medication,’ solicitor Javid Faiz said.
Court documents, seen by the Daily Telegraph, show Mitnik had been estranged from his grandmother.
He allegedly visited her home on Saturday and stayed about an hour before strangling and stabbing her 19 times.
He then allegedly called Triple Zero and asked for assistance in ‘having a body removed from the location’.
Mitnik allegedly told the operator his grandmother was ‘being not compliant and unfortunately I have to get an ambulance here’.
Neighbours described Ms Spivak (above) as a ‘nice, quiet woman’ who loved old Russian opera
Police were called to Ms Spivak’s unit (above) about 5.15pm on Saturday
Court documents state Mitnik hung up and turned off his phone before police arrived and that a knife was found at the scene.
The documents further state Mitnik had recently spoken to his grandmother by telephone about a Jewish holiday which she usually marked by giving relatives money.
He told the court Mitnik had an appointment scheduled with a psychologist a month ago, which had been cancelled.
Mr Faiz flagged asking in future for his client to be transferred to a mental health facility but in the meantime asked that he be assessed by two psychiatrists.
The police prosecutor said a statement of facts referred to Mitnik making ‘some admissions’ but it did not include any detail about his mental condition.
Mitnik did not apply for bail and it was formally refused, with the judge recommending he receive any necessary treatment and be provided with medication.
Eastern Suburbs Police Area Commander, Detective Superintendent Jodi Radmore said Mitnik did not reside at Bondi and had been cooperative with police.
‘It is awful and it’s awful for the community and it’s awful to the victim’s family,’ she said.
A bail court heard Mitnik (centre) was suffering from mental health issues and taking Ozempic
Mitnik was charged with domestic violence-related murder following the alleged attack on Saturday evening
‘One alleged murder is too many… we just have to work together to do better.’
Ms Spivak was one of three women who died just hours apart in separate incidents across NSW.
Just hours after the death, the body of another woman in her 70s was found at Mole River in the state’s north.
Police were called to reports of a domestic violence incident in the regional district about 9.35pm.
Investigators believe a 37-year-old man entered a property and tried to steal a vehicle before assaulting the 74-year-old resident.
The younger man was arrested and police then went on to search the neighbouring property where they found the body of a woman in her 70s, who is yet to be formally identified.
Part of the house was damaged by fire, police said.
A crime scene has been established at both locations and an investigation launched with help from the homicide squad.
Ms Spivak’s death (above) was one of three fatal attacks on women within hours across NSW
Earlier on Saturday, a 23-year-old woman was found with critical stab wounds inside a home in Wagga Wagga, in southwestern NSW.
Emergency services were called to the home about 11.45am but the woman died at the scene. Police were told a man left the location prior to officers’ arrival.
An 18-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Wagga Wagga police station, but he was later released without charge.
About 8.30pm, a 31-year-old man was arrested at a home and taken to Wagga Wagga police station, where he remains.
All three people are believed to have known each other.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491
