A man has faced court accused of murdering a 22-year-old woman in a random attack in Perth.
9News spoke with the accused killer’s sister who says her brother has had a long battle with mental illness.
Clarence Jalloh was seen on CCTV just moments before he allegedly stabbed Melanie Kizenga to death.
Today, wearing a forensics jumpsuit, the 30-year-old faced court charged with murder.
“We came here as refugees so it’s been a lot. I don’t know what to say,” Jalloh’s sister said.
“I’m shaking, I just received this information yesterday.”
Kizenga was walking with her cousin about 8pm on Saturday when she was stabbed. She later died in hospital.
Friends and family have mourned her loss outside Balga Primary School, where tributes are growing for the 22-year-old.
She was described as a “soul with so much light” and a young woman “filled with love, life and laughter”.
Her uncle, Godfrey Mafuta, said his heart was broken.
During the brief court appearance, the magistrate said a report from a clinical nurse revealed Jalloh has “a long history of mental illness”, which may impact his “capacity to make decisions”.
“It’s a heavy heart, honestly, and no one deserves to die.
Like the judge said in there, he’s been battling with mental health,” Jalloh’s sister said.
The 30-year-old wasn’t required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody to reappear next month.
Liberian community representative Dave Jallah said they are “feeling very sad”.”
That’s why we are here today, to sympathise with the bereaved family.
It’s not something we should be seeing in our community,” he said.
A fundraiser has been set up to help Kizenga’s family with funeral costs.
