An African man has faced court over the alleged stabbing murder of a young woman in Perth on Saturday night.
Clarence Jalloh, 30, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday charged with the murder of Mauwa Kizenga, 22, who was killed while walking down a street in the suburb of Balga with her cousin at about 8pm.
She was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with serious stab wounds but could not be saved.
The court heard Jalloh, who spoke only to say he understood the charged, has a long history of mental illness. He was remanded in custody and told to apply for bail in the Supreme Court if he wished to do so, ABC News reported.
Member of the Liberian community were in court for Jalloh’s appearance, and expressed their support for Ms Kizenga’s family.
“We want to say sorry for what has happened. This shouldn’t happen in our community,” community leader Dave Jallah said.
“We are deeply in sympathy with what happened, and we ask the community, when we make our way there, to see how best we can sympathise with them.”
Mr Jallah also knew Mr Jalloh, and said he has spoken to him “many times”.
“It is very sad to see him in this situation,” he said.
Jalloh was arrested after being cornered by locals who chased him down and disarmed him after the alleged murder.
Police described the alleged attack as “violent and completely unprovoked”.
Ms Kizenga is the second person allegedly stabbed to death by an African man in Perth in as many weeks.
On March 4 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.
Jalloh and Niyonyishi will both face court again in April.
