The woman who died after being found with burns all over her body in the stairwell of a unit block has been photographed for the first time.
Kristy Banister, 44, was found by paramedics at the Vicliffe Avenue unit complex in Campsie, in Sydney’s west, shortly after 3pm on Monday.
She was rushed to Concord Hospital, but died hours later, around 9:30 p.m.
One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia they heard screams about 2.30pm before the woman was discovered on fire.
He understands that Mrs. Banister cut herself before covering herself with gasoline.
‘I saw her when they took her to the ambulance. “It was as black as that car,” he said, pointing to a utility vehicle on the street.
‘They worked with her here for two hours.
‘How can anyone do that? Do they pour gasoline on themselves? You don’t have to be right in the head.
Kristy Banister, 44, was found by paramedics at the unit complex on Vicliffe Avenue in Campsie shortly after 3pm on Monday (pictured).
The man said everyone in the 18-unit complex had complained about her during the more than five years she had resided on the block.
The complaints centered on his abuse with other residents, his drug use, and his two illegal tenants who were not respectful when using the common areas.
‘She had been living here for over five years. There have been complaints about her all the time. But public housing has done nothing,” he said.
The man said he called public housing twice earlier this month, only to be told to call again in December.
“Public housing is meant to take care of people,” he said.
‘They must be accounted for. I don’t like to see anyone hurt. “If they had done something, this might not have happened.”
The man said Banister’s illegal tenants were not home when she reportedly set herself on fire Monday.
‘I saw (the illegal tenant) and his girlfriend leaving around 7am on the motorcycle. “They haven’t been back since,” he said.
He said syringes had been discovered near the building.
‘A couple of weeks ago, there were children playing in the parking lot. They picked up some things from the ground, went to their dad and said, “What are these?” he said.
‘They were a couple of syringes.
“We are dirty because we complained a month ago.”
No one else was injured in what police are treating as a self-harm incident.
A crime scene has been established in the Campsie unit block and officers have begun investigations into the incident.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.