A 35-year-old woman has died, and her 12-year-old daughter is in hospital with serious stab wounds after a suspected family violence incident in Perth’s south-east, with police taking a 16-year-old boy into custody.
Emergency services were called to a home on Mills Street in Bentley, about eight kilometres south-east of Perth’s CBD, at around 6.25 am on Tuesday following reports of a serious incident. Inside the home, officers found the woman deceased with stab wounds.
Police said the 12-year-old girl, who is believed to be the deceased woman’s daughter, managed to flee the house despite her injuries before seeking help from members of the public. She was later found nearby with stab wounds and rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital, where she remains in a serious condition.
Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo said members of the public played a crucial role in assisting the girl before emergency services arrived.
“We’re very thankful that members of the public did stop, assist the female and St John were called as soon as possible to provide the 12-year-old with the lifesaving care that she needed,” she said.
A 16-year-old boy, understood to be the son of the deceased woman and brother of the injured girl, was located at the residence and taken into police custody. Authorities said the teenager was previously known to police, although no charges had been laid as of Tuesday afternoon.
Western Australia Police’s Homicide Squad has assumed responsibility for the investigation and is treating the matter as a suspected family violence homicide.
Detective Acting Inspector Securo said there was no ongoing risk to the wider community but acknowledged the devastating impact the incident would have on those involved.
“This incident will have a significant impact on the family, friends and loved ones of all those involved, as well as the broader community,” she said.
Police have established a crime scene at the Bentley home while forensic officers continue examining the property and interviewing witnesses. Investigators are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers as inquiries continue.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
