An African man has been charged with murder after an elderly Australian was allegedly stabbed to death and his wife severely injured inside their Perth home.
Colin Norton, 81, and his wife Margaret, 75, were allegedly attacked by Pasifique Zawadi Niyonyishi, 19, at their house in Greenwood in the city’s north on Monday morning.
Mr Norton died of critical head injuries while Mrs Norton was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with stab wounds where she is in a stable condition. The couple’s dog was also found nearby with knife wounds suffered when it tried to defend its owners.
Police said Niyonyishi, who was captured in Kingsley after surrounding suburbs were placed in lockdown during a manhunt, was known to a relative of the couple.
Video footage of the arrest shows Niyonyishi in handcuffs on the curb surrounded by police.
He is believed to be known to the couple’s foster son, who was filmed distraught outside the home after the alleged murder.
Niyonyishi has been charged with murder and attempt to unlawfully kill, and appeared in Joondalup Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
He was not represented by a lawyer, was not required to plead to the charges, and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance, set for April.
Mr Norton is the second elderly Australian to be allegedly murdered by an African teenager in the past month, following the stabbing death of Vyleen White, 70, in Redbank Plains, Queensland, on February 3.
