Anita Cobby’s killer moved to palliative care

Michael Murphy, one of the men found guilty of murdering Anita Cobby in 1986, has been moved to palliative care.

The 65-year-old was moved from Long Bay Jail, Sydney, suffering from advanced cancer yesterday.

Anita Cobby was raped and murdered in February 1986.

The nurse and former beauty queen had been having dinner with friends when she was snatched off the street and killed.

The 26-year-old had been set upon by five men while walking home from work in Blacktown in Sydney's west.

She was savagely raped and beaten for hours.

One of her attackers slit her throat so badly she was almost decapitated.

Her body was found in a paddock not far from Blacktown.

Twenty-six days after Ms Cobby died, John Travers, Michael Murdoch and three brothers - Michael, Gary and Les Murphy - were in custody.

Secret tapes used to catch the men confessing to the brutal murder led them being sentenced to life behind bars.

9NEWS understands Murphy doesn’t have long to live.

Ms Cobby's family members have been notified.