By Brendan Rees
Victoria’s police chief say officers have begun an “intensive” investigation into the death of renowned greyhound trainer Keren Leek who died in a “very violent crime”.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said since the discovery of Ms Leek’s body at her Devon Meadows home on Tuesday morning 26 May, investigators had been interviewing people – but no arrest had been made at this stage.
Homicide squad detectives are trying to determined what led to her final moments – as the “exact circumstances are still to be determined”.
Emergency services were called to a property on Cross Road about 10am where they found the body of the 69-year-old.
Mr Ashton said Ms Leek’s home was a “big property” which had been treated as a crime scene.
“Certainly it’s a terrible crime and a very violent crime,” he told 3AW.
“She was someone well-known in the greyhound industry … it’s certainly sent shockwaves through that Devon Meadows area,” he said.
Mr Ashton reassured the public that it was “huge priority” for investigators.
Investigators have made an appeal for anyone who may have seen any activity at the property over the past few days to come forward.
“They would also like to hear from anyone who drove past the address or through the area and has dash-cam footage,” a Victoria police spokeswoman said.
Those close to to Ms Leek described her as well-respected, highly successful and dedicated member of the greyhound industry – with the Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders Association saying it was “deeply saddened” by the news.
Friend Donna Sadler of Jamuna Equine in Nar Nar Goon described Ms Leek as “a really lovely person”.
Ms Sadler said Ms Leek was a great mentor when she started training greyhounds about 12 years ago.
“If I needed advice or anything like that she always here. It wasn’t never too much trouble for her to give you a hand,” she said.
“I can’t say a bad word about Karen at all.”
Ms Sadler said the news of Ms Leek’s death came as a shock and “certainly didn’t expect that something had happened to her.”
“She only just messaged me last week about the dogs because I’ve got French bulldogs … it was just a quick message in passing about the puppies that I had.”
Mick Floyd, racing and media manager at Sandown Park said Ms Leek was a “popular figure” and “had a real passion” for greyhound racing.
“I never heard a bad word about her. She was always up for a chat; she was always quite friendly and pleasant,” he said.
Mr Floyd said she was “across every path of the sport” including breeding, rearing, training – with a number of “outstanding greyhounds” that had come through her Devon Meadows property.
He added Ms Leek had a “big influence on careers” and “was very keen to grow the sport”.
“The number of people she got involved or had helped throughout their careers it was a surprise for me.
“She always very direct but not a nasty way, she was far from that. She was very polite, very courteous, very respectful.”
When news broke of her death, Mr Floyd said: “For that to happen to anyone is a tragedy but for someone who is just so well like and quite genuinely it comes as a real shock.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
