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A man has been charged with murder after Sydney woman Claire Austin died from injuries sustained while allegedly fleeing her boyfriend's abuse.

Austin, 38, was found critically injured with a severe laceration to her arm at a unit on Randwick Street in Randwick about 7.40am on April 12.

She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition.

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Austin – a marketing manager originally from the UK – died in hospital several days later.

Detectives established Strike Force Lyndoch to investigate Austin's death.

Police arrested a 44-year-old man, who was known to Austin, at a home in Little Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs about 9am today.

He was taken to Maroubra Police Station and has been charged with murder (domestic violence) and abusive behaviour towards an intimate partner (coercive control).

He was refused bail to appear in court tomorrow.

Police previously spoke to the man at the unit on the evening of Austin's injury.

He was taken to Maroubra Police Station but later released without charge before being taken to a mental health facility.

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NSW Premier Chris Minns said in April that police were taking the investigation incredibly seriously.

"I want the public to be assured that there's a task force that's been set up by NSW Police, they're taking it incredibly seriously, and the focus will be justice for that woman and her family," he said.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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A man has been charged after a sex worker was allegedly sexually assaulted and robbed at knifepoint in Sydney's north-west.

The woman was allegedly confronted by a man wearing a dark face covering when she answered the door at a unit on Blaxland Road in Ryde about 10.25pm on Saturday, November 1.

Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the woman attempted to get away from the man but he forced his way inside and held her up against a wall.

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"He then dragged her by the hair into another room within the premises and produced a large knife from his pocket, which was held to her throat and threatened her, demanding money," Doherty alleged.

The woman allegedly then handed him money.

"Police will further allege the male dragged the woman throughout the unit into a number of those rooms before pinning her onto a bed, hitting her a number of times while he tried to sexually assault her.

"Police will further allege the male then choked the female by putting his hands along her throat and actually sexually assaulted her through that time.

"Police will allege the female attempted to run from the unit and was detained further by that male while he rummaged through the rooms in the unit."

Doherty said a short time later the man left the unit and the woman called triple zero.

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Police searched a home at Castle Hill in the city's north-west and arrested a 21-year-old man at about 8.15am yesterday.

He was charged with robbery, assault, and sexual assault offences.

The man was refused bail and has appeared in court today.

Doherty said the woman was the only person in the unit at the time.

"She luckily only sustained minor physical injuries, however is quite traumatised by the whole incident," Doherty said.

"We think about sex workers generally in different ways.

"To come forward and say this is what I was doing at the time and this is what happened to me, I want to acknowledge the strength this young lady has shown.

Doherty said crimes against sex workers were often underreported due to a reluctance to report incidents.

"It's very difficult for anyone to tell about a sexual assault, but I think there are other layers added to this, I acknowledge that she has done a very good job coming forward," Doherty said.

"There are support services for sex workers, there is the Sex Workers Outreach Program in NSW, but I want them to know that they will be supported by NSW Police as well."

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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