- Luke Sekkouah, 35, charged with murder
- He allegedly killed his partner Erica Hay
- Police allege he then set their home on fire
The man accused of murdering his partner and then setting their house on fire before fleeing the blaze has faced court.
Luke Hanif Sekkouah, 35, faced Northbridge Magistrates Court on Sunday charged with the murder of 30-year-old Erica Hay.
Firefighters discovered Ms Hay’s body in a rear bedroom of a home on Currie Street, Warnbro, in Perth’s southern suburbs, at about 1am on Friday after being called to the property following reports of a house fire.
Police allege Sekkouah physically assaulted the mother-of-four sometime between 7.30am Thursday and 1am Friday, at the home they both lived.
It will be alleged Sekkouah then set fire to the home while Ms Hay was still inside.
Luke Hanif Sekkouah, 35, faced Northbridge Magistrates Court charged with the murder of 30-year-old Erica Hay
Sekkouah and Ms Hay’s three-year-old daughter escaped the blaze before firefighters arrived at the scene.
His defence lawyer Paul Bevilacqua requested Magistrate Michelle Pontifex adjourn the case for several weeks.
During his brief hearing, Sekkouah only spoke to confirm his name and that he understood the charges brought against him.
He is scheduled to appear before Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court at the end of next month.
Sekkouah, who was known to Ms Hay, was assisting police with their investigation before being charged with murder and criminal damage by fire.
Police Acting Detective Superintendent Dave Gorton said Ms Hay’s death was ‘very confronting’ for first responders.
Police will allege Sekkouah physically assaulted mother-of-four Erica Hay, 30, before setting her home on fire and fleeing the blaze with her three-year-old daughter
‘There is no risk to the public, but the scene at the home was very confronting for the paramedics and police who attended the fire,’ Mr Gorton said.
‘I think for the first responders and the other emergency services, it was a very confronting scene for them.’
Authorities are yet to determine Ms Hay’s cause of death.
‘We’ve been in contact with the forensic pathologists, and we’re still awaiting the information in relation to the cause of death,’ Mr Gorton said.
Ms Hay’s daughter was taken to Rockingham Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. It’ understood she is recovering and is in a stable condition.
