Tragic images have emerged of a mother-of-two real estate agent celebrating with colleagues before she was allegedly stabbed to death at work by a random stranger.
Julie ‘Julez’ Seed, 38, died in an alleged attack at the office of REAL Estate Agents Group in Plympton, Adelaide, on Wednesday, where she had worked for two years.
A female co-worker, aged 50, was also seriously injured in the alleged incident but is now said to be in a stable condition in hospital.
Shaun Michael Dunk, 30, allegedly stabbed Ms Seed to death around 3.40pm at her Lydia Street office.
Health chiefs have now launched an inquiry to find out why the mentally ill man – who had been on an inpatient treatment order – was released into the community by Royal Adelaide Hospital just 48 hours earlier.
Mr Dunk was charged with Ms Seed’s murder and the attempted murder of her co-worker on Thursday and will appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
Julie ‘Julez’ Seed, 38, (pictured with fiance Chris Smith) died in an alleged attack at the office of REAL Estate Agents in Plympton, Adelaide, on Wednesday
Tragic images have emerged of a mother-of-two real estate agent Julez Seed (left) celebrating with colleagues before she was allegedly stabbed to death at work
Police are investigating the allegedly random stabbing in Plympton on Wednesday afternoon
In the wake of the tragedy, close friends have paid tribute to Ms Seed, a mother of two daughters aged 12 and 18, from Morphett Vale who got engaged to partner Chris Smith a year ago.
‘Julez was a beautiful soul, she had a smile that lit up a room,’ close pal Cathy Black told Daily Mail . ‘She was very loved.
‘Julez and Chris were so happy together, it’s tragic. She was always happy, everyone loved her.
‘She was a wonderful mum of two beautiful girls, one of which has just turned 18.
‘It’s heartbreaking to think that she finally had everything she had ever wanted in life, only to be taken so tragically from the world by a senseless random act of violence that should never have happened.
‘Now a beautiful family has had their whole life torn apart….and right before Christmas.
‘My heart breaks for her family.’
Ms Black also fondly remembered Ms Seed’s lifelong affection for cows: ‘She loved cows. Anything cow-related, she was obsessed with cows!
‘She had just found everything that she wanted – a beautiful mum, two beautiful girls, a beautiful family, home, fiance – she’d just got her dream job,’ she added tearfully.
‘And then this happens.
‘Innocent people are losing their lives and it’s not fair.’
Close pal Cathy Black told how Ms Seed was enjoying her best life before the tragedy, after getting engaged a year ago, with a ‘beautiful family’ and starting her dream job two years ago
Photographs on social media reveal Ms Seed (right) celebrating Melbourne Cup Day in 2021 with her real estate workmates, who described her as a ‘little diamond’ and one of the ‘happiest in our office’
The images show Ms Seed (right) happy and smiling, wearing a pink dress with black polka dots and a black fascinator as she studies the form guides ahead of the race at a local bar
Almost a year ago to the day she died, Ms Seed had celebrated Christmas with her co-workers with a limo trip to their Xmas party venue (pictured)
Photographs on social media reveal Ms Seed celebrating Melbourne Cup Day in 2021 with her real estate workmates, who described her as a ‘little diamond’ and one of the ‘happiest in our office’.
Co-worker Susan Scardigno posted the pics on Facebook and added: ‘Day out with my crew.
‘Trifecta and Pick 4 in the bag but would have traded the win just to share this day again with this REAL Estate Agents Group.’
The images show Ms Seed happy and smiling, wearing a pink dress with black polka dots and a black fascinator as she studies the form guides ahead of the race at a local bar.
‘Such an amazing day,’ said Ms Seed in a reply to one of the pictures.
South Health has now launched a review into their process after admitting the alleged killer had been treated for mental health issues just two days before the tragedy.
A spokesman told Daily Mail : ‘The Chief Psychiatrist will be reviewing the circumstances around this patient’s treatment and discharge.’
In the wake of the tragedy, close friends have paid tribute to Ms Seed, a mother of two daughters aged 12 and 17, from Morphett Vale who was engaged to Chris Smith (pictured together)
Witnesses told 9News that they were helpless to do anything but could hear desperate screams when the alleged attack began.
‘I just hear some lady screaming and I listen to the door as it just crashed closed,’ one woman said.
‘To stand here and watch has been really scary and horrifying to see,’ another added.
The real estate building is located next to a supermarket car park where families were among those who watched the tragic events unfold.
Police said they had recovered a knife and a small hammer from the crime scene.
‘Two women were stabbed by a man not known to them,’ said a police statement.
A specialist team of Medstar paramedics worked for more than an hour to save Julie Seed, 38, but were unsuccessful and she died at the scene
Another aged 50, from Henley Beach, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene and has been charged with murder and attempted murder
‘A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene and has been charged with one count of murder and one count of attempt murder.
‘He will appear before the Adelaide Magistrates Court today, Thursday December 21.
‘Detectives from Major Crime attended and are assisting Southern District officers with the investigation. A knife and a small hammer were seized from the scene.’
Officers have now appealed for witnesses who were in the area at the time or who may have dashcam footage to come forward.