“A clear and tragic case of domestic violence” - Bathurst grieves the loss of Nadia Cameron.

Kate Neilson
Aug 4, 2015
3 min read

It’s the classic story of abuse. She was in an extremely controlling relationship and he was an extremely jealous person. When she finally made her courageous attempt to get out things only got worse.

Nadia Cameron. Image: Facebook

Two weeks after the discovery of the bodies of Bathurst real estate agent, Nadia Cameron, and local businessman, Elie Issa, in what appeared to be a murder suicide, the town of Bathurst is still reeling at the loss of these two prominent figures.

The bodies were discovered on Friday the 17th of July in Mr. Issa’s home in Kelso after neighbours had alerted the police after hearing suspicious noises coming from the property.

The bodies were found just ten minutes out of Bathurst on Mr. Issa's property. Image: Google Maps

Mr. Issa, who was in his sixties, was the owner of the popular ‘Elie’s Cafe’ on William street in Bathurt and had been running the cafe for more than a decade. Ex-employee, Kelly Smith*, says she was extremely upset to hear about the tragedy but she wasn’t surprised to find out that Mr. Issa had a violent streak.

Nadia Cameron and Elie Issa at the Bathurst Business Awards. Image: Facebook

“I used to work for him in my first year of uni, so about two years ago now. The customers always seemed to love Elie, but he wasn’t always great towards his employees...regardless, this is a really awful situation and I feel really sad for their family and friends,” said Smith.

"Nobody knows why Ms. Cameron was in his apartment that night. Her friends suspect that she felt sorry for him."

Ms. Cameron, 52, had been working at the Bathurst real estate agent, just two shops down from Elie’s cafe. The pair had been in a relationship for the last four years and just a few weeks before her death, Ms. Cameron had decided to call things off. It has been speculated that the ending of their relationship is what triggered the shooting, but these details are still to be confirmed.

“Nadia used to come into the cafe all the time... she was always really nice and friendly to myself and other staff members. I can see why there has been such widespread grief over her death,” said Smith.

The story of Nadia's murder has spread nation wide. Image: ABC news

Friends and family of Ms. Cameron say that while some people are choosing to portray Mr. Issa as a generous and caring man, they knew a different side of him and described this situation as a “clear and tragic case of domestic violence.”

Reports from the Sydney Morning Herald suggested that Mr. Issa wasn’t an attentive partner and had not once brought Ms. Cameron a birthday present or holiday. It wasn’t until Cameron had ended the relationship that Mr. Issa started to buy flowers in an attempt to win her back. No one really knows what Cameron was doing in Mr. Issa’s apartment that night. Her friends suspect that she felt sorry for him.

In this report, her friend, who wished to remain un-named, said that Ms. Cameron was emotionally and mentally abused for years. Prior to their break up, Ms. Cameron would call on a weekly basis, in tears. She says that Nadia was miserable.

Both Mr. Issa and Ms. Cameron had children from their previous relationships. Cameron had recently spent time with her 16-year-old son, Jordan, who lives with his father in Avoca, New South Wales.