Tracy Connelly had walked St Kilda's red light district for at least a decade and knew her work was dangerous. In 2005, her minder was run over by a man who was angry that she refused to get in his car, Ms Connelly once told a court.

She tried to survive without sex work, but needed the money.

On Sunday, Ms Connelly was murdered in the van she had lived in with her boyfriend. It had been parked in Greeves Street across from St Kilda Gatehouse - a safe haven for sex workers.

Homicide detectives have cleared the boyfriend over the murder and are investigating if a client was responsible.