Redfern man set upon in 'cowardly' attack

A family is still waiting for answers more than a month after a Sydney man was beaten to death in what police believe was a botched drug rip-off plan or the result of a debt gone bad.

Peter Kennelly, 48, walked into a public housing unit on Morehead Street, in inner-city Redfern, just before midnight on October 4.

Police believe he was attacked by four or five people and managed to escape to a neighbouring block of units where he lost consciousness.

Mr Kennelly was not found until the following morning, and never woke up. He died in hospital on November 12 after suffering severe facial and head injuries.

An autopsy is expected to be finalised late this week or early next week.

Police are now hunting for a man and woman they believe played some role in the murder. Both are described as being of Pacific Islander or Maori appearance, aged around 35 to 40.

Redfern Local Area Commander Luke Freudenstein says Mr Kennelly had been known to police.

"No one likes to see anyone pass away, no one likes to see a cowardly attack by a group of people on this one man," Superintendent Freudenstein told reporters on Tuesday.

"This is one of those things where we believe a drug rip has gone bad - really bad - and these people you're dealing with, they don't have a conscience.

"They don't care. They're just interested in selling drugs."

He said the man's parents and two sisters were "devastated".

"They're really suffering. It really would be great closure if someone would come forward and give us the names of these two people," Supt Freudenstein said.

Officers attached to Strike Force Bingi spent Tuesday door-knocking in the area where Mr Kennelly was attacked.