A man has been charged with murder after he allegedly assaulted a woman and set her home on fire in Perth before fleeing.
Firefighters were called to Warnbro’s home in Perth’s southern suburbs about 1am on Friday following reports of a house fire.
The body of Erica Hay, 30, was discovered in a back bedroom of the home on Currie Street.
A 35-year-old man and a three-year-old girl escaped from the home and were taken to Rockingham Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
Police allege that the 35-year-old man had assaulted the woman sometime before 1 a.m. at the house where they both lived.
He set the house on fire, fled the property with the woman’s three-year-old son and left the victim inside, police allege.
A man has been charged with murder after he allegedly assaulted a woman and set her home on fire in Perth before fleeing.
The man, who was allegedly an acquaintance of Ms Hay, was assisting police in their investigation before being charged with murder.
Acting Police Detective Superintendent Dave Gorton said Hay’s death was “very confronting” for first responders.
“There is no risk to the public, but the scene at the house was very confronting for the paramedics and police who responded to the fire,” Gorton said.
“I think for the first responders and the other emergency services, it was a very confrontational scene.”
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of Ms. Hay’s death.
“We have been in contact with forensic pathologists and are still awaiting information regarding the cause of death,” Gorton said.
Paramedics took the boy to Rockingham Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
The house suffered minimal damage in the fire.
The man was charged with murder and criminal damage by arson.
He is expected to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday.
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