Australian police seek motive for mass family murder

Australian police investigating the brutal murder of five family members in Sydney yesterday said they were combing every facet of the victims' lives in search of a motive.

The family were found bludgeoned to death in their beds and police have admitted they can find no obvious motive for the "horrific" mass murder.

The victims were named in the media as Chinese-born newsagent Min Lin, his 43-year-old wife Lillie, their sons Henry, 12, and Terry, nine, and Lillie's 39-year-old sister Yun Bin Yin.

Police have ruled out that one of the dead murdered the others before committing suicide, and say robbery does not appear to be a motive as nothing was stolen.

They have also played down any link to an armed robbery witnessed by the eldest male victim earlier this year and say the murders appear to have been "targeted" rather than random.

Neighbours have described the victims as a "normal" suburban family and Superintendent Geoff Beresford said a task force of 18 detectives was trying to find a reason why they were killed.

"We'll be bringing in other experts to look at every aspect of the family. Their business relationships, friendships, any associations with all members of the families will have to be closely examined to establish a motive," he said.

Post mortem examinations began yesterday to formally identify the victims, whom police said had suffered extensive blunt instrument injuries, but results are not expected until Friday.

Forensic specialists were also examining the house.

The sole surviving child in the family, a 15-year-old girl, returned from an overseas trip on Sunday and Mr Beresford said she was being cared for by relatives.

"She's in good care at the moment and she's a very strong young lady and she has assisted us obviously with our inquiries," remarked Mr Beresford.

"We obviously have concerns for her safety only in so much as this is such an... unusual and vicious attack."

Mr Beresford said he had never encountered a similar case.

"This is certainly one of the worst crimes," he said. "I can't remember a time when the entire family suffered such a tragic fate."