POLICE investigating the murder of the Lin family have received new information about Yun Bin "Irene" Lin, the slain sister who was living with the family in their North Epping home at the time of their brutal death.
The 39-year-old, who had lived with her elder sister Yun Li Lin, her newsagent hu*****and Min Lin and their three children Brenda, Henry and Terry since moving from China 12 months ago, was a mature-age student at Macquarie University where she hoped to obtain a degree in business studies.
Detective Superintendent Geoff Beresford, who is leading the investigation into the murder of five of the family members in the early hours of Saturday, said police would speak with university staff later today.
"We've learnt she was a student at Macquarie University for about the last 12 months," Supt Beresford said.
"Any fellow students who could offer any sort of information concerning this lady, we'd like to hear from them."
He would not comment on whether Irene had a partner in either Australia or China.
Detectives have rallied around 15-year-old Brenda, who returned to Australia on Sunday from an overseas school trip with no family to go home to.
"Our enquiries continue with her on a daily basis. She's a wonderful and strong girl under the circumstances," Supt Beresford said.
"(She is) obviously traumatised, but she's been of enormous help this week."
Meanwhile, it has been ruled out that the murder - said to be a targeted attack by a killer or killers who knew the family - was racially motivated.
"We do not believe this people died simply because they were of Chinese origin," Supt Beresford said.
"It's a particularly vicious crime and certainly unusual that an entire family died this way."
Forensic officers will continue to work at the Boundary Rd home until late today or early tomorrow.
Post-mortem examinations on the family will continue until Friday, but the results of toxicology tests may not be known for some weeks.
Distressed members of the Epping community last night attended a meeting at All Saints Anglican Church, where police appealed for anyone who had had social contact with the Lin family to come forward.