Melbourne Hub: Cops arrest homeless man seen 'chasing woman' before she was sexually ...

The naked body of an unidentified Chinese woman was found by a jogger on Saturday

Police arrested Scott Allen Miller as a suspect in the murder after a nationwide manhunt

Her body was found near the Royal Botanic Gardens in Southbank, Victoria

Police have found CCTV footage that shows a man confronting and then chasing a woman down St Kilda Rd into the botanic gardens

Police have warned women to be 'vigilant' when walking at night

Published: 17:06 EST, 29 June 2014 | Updated: 02:39 EST, 30 June 2014

Police have identified Scott Allen Miller, 42, as a suspect in the murder of a woman found on Saturday morning in Melbourne

Scott Allen Miller, the key suspect in the rape and murder of a 32-year-old woman in Melbourne, has been arrested by police this afternoon.

The 42-year-old homeless man was arrested in New South Wales after a national alert was issued by Victorian police.

CCTV footage has emerged which police believe shows Scott Allen Miller chasing a young woman across St Kilda Road into the Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

Police had been searching for Miller since Saturday when he was named as as a suspect in the 'extremely violent' assault and murder of a woman in Melbourne.

He has been taken in for questioning about the rape and murder of a woman whose naked body was found by joggers under a tree at Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens on Saturday morning.

The woman is a 32-year-old Chinese national who moved to Australia to work in the hospitality industry.

She has been identified by police and some of her relatives in China have been contacted, but police are yet to forensically confirm her identity and have not released her name.

It is believed she was on her way to work at 5.20am on Saturday when she was approached by Miller.

CCTV footage from the morning of the crime shows a woman being chased across St Kilda Road into the Botanic Gardens near the corner of St Kilda Road and Linlithgow Avenue.

Police have confirmed that the woman was both sexually and physically assaulted and while they have not released a cause of death, they have confirmed that it was a 'particularly violent assault'. She died at the scene.

Miller had been sleeping rough in the rotunda at the botanic gardens, 200 metres from where the body was found.

Miller was born in the U.S. and once lived in an affluent Perth suburb.

In the 1990s he was a leading figure in the illegal dance party scene in Perth as director of E-Nerve Pty Ltd a company that organised raves, The Age reported.

Left: Scott Allen Miller was captured on CCTV footage at a shopping centre on Springvale Road in Glen Waverley at midday on Saturday. Right: Detectives are looking to speak to the man (right of picture) who was seen on CCTV walking north along Swanston Street past the Melbourne Town Hall with 42-year-old Scott Allen Miller around 1.50am on Saturday

Earlier this afternoon Homicide Squad detectives appealed for help to identify a second man who was seen out drinking with Miller on the night of the crime and may be able to assist with the investigation.

The man detectives were looking to speak to is seen on CCTV walking north along Swanston Street past the Melbourne Town Hall with Miller around 1.50am on Saturday morning.

Homicide Squad Detective Inspector John Potter urged the man to make contact with police or call Crime Stoppers.

'We do not believe this man was involved in the woman's death, but it's important we speak to him as he may be able to help with regard to Miller’s whereabouts,' Det Insp Potter said.

'If anyone knows who this man is, we also encourage them to contact Crime Stoppers.'

Miller and the unknown male were seen entering a licensed premises on Bourke Street between Swanston and Russell streets around 2am, where it's believe they stayed for a number of hours before leaving separately.

The woman's naked body was discovered in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Southbank

The woman's body was discovered by joggers on Saturday morning under a tree in the popular park

A nationwide manhunt is underway for a homeless man

Detectives have been told that Miller was asked to leave the establishment around 5am. He is then seen on CCTV shortly after walking south along Swanston Street and across Princes Bridge.

It is believed he approached the victim at 5.20am and chased her into the botanic gardens.

Police say they have connected Miller to several items found at the crime scene.

Miller, who is originally from Western Australia, has been sleeping on the streets of the city for at least six weeks and is known to police in other states, although he does not have a criminal history in Victoria.

While police issued a national alert, they concentrated their search on the Melbourne area. They also engaged transit police and were looking around train stations as Miller is known to travel by train.

Anyone with information about the death is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit http://ift.tt/TqINjN.