- Luke Sekkouah, 35, charged with murder
- He allegedly killed his partner Erica Hay
- Police allege he then set fire to his home.
The man accused of murdering his partner and then setting their house on fire before fleeing the blaze has appeared in court.
Luke Hanif Sekkouah, 35, appeared at Northbridge Magistrates Court on Sunday charged with the murder of Erica Hay, 30.
Firefighters discovered Ms Hay’s body in a rear bedroom of a house on Currie Street, Warnbro, in Perth’s southern suburbs, about 1am on Friday after being called to the property following reports of a fire in the house.
Police allege Sekkouah physically assaulted the mother of four sometime between 7.30am on Thursday and 1am on Friday, at the home where they both lived.
Sekkouah is alleged to have set fire to the house while Hay was still inside.
Luke Hanif Sekkouah, 35, faced Northbridge Magistrates Court charged with the murder of Erica Hay, 30.
Sekkouah and Hay’s three-year-old daughter escaped the fire before firefighters arrived on the scene.
His defense attorney, Paul Bevilacqua, asked Magistrate Michelle Pontifex to adjourn the case for several weeks.
During his brief hearing, Sekkouah spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the charges against him.
He is due to appear at Stirling Gardens Magistrates’ Court at the end of next month.
Sekkouah, an acquaintance of Hay, was assisting police in their investigation before being charged with murder and criminal damage by arson.
Acting Police Detective Superintendent Dave Gorton said Hay’s death was “very confronting” for first responders.
Police will allege Sekkouah physically assaulted Erica Hay, 30, a mother of four, before setting fire to her home and fleeing the fire with her three-year-old daughter.
“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.
Hay’s daughter was taken to Rockingham Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. It is understood that she is recovering and is in stable condition.
