A Penang-born woman living in Perth has died after an alleged assault by her partner, who has been charged with murder. She leaves behind three children.
PETALING JAYA: A Penang-born woman living in Perth, Australia, has died after suffering serious injuries in an alleged assault by her partner, with police treating the case as a domestic violence-related murder.
Kah Ming Tan, 28, was found unconscious at a house on Taree Street in St James at about 8.30pm on Aug 26.
She was taken to Royal Perth Hospital by St John WA but later died from her injuries.
Homicide detectives allege Tan had been assaulted several days before she was admitted to hospital and that her partner, Younis Qambari, 38, was responsible for the injuries that resulted in her death.
Police said the alleged assault occurred within the context of a family and domestic relationship.
Qambari has been charged with murder and remains in custody following a brief appearance at Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.
Bail was not considered during the hearing, and he is scheduled to appear in court again in September.
Tan was reportedly educated at a secondary school in Butterworth and is survived by three children, aged three, five and seven.
The children were at the residence when their mother died.
Tan’s death has left her family devastated, with her twin sister telling 7NEWS Australia that she was struggling to accept the loss.
The family had reportedly raised concerns about Tan’s safety before her death.
They are said to have contacted police about three months earlier after noticing injuries on Tan and becoming increasingly worried about her wellbeing.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described the case as a stark reminder of the need to address gender-based and family violence.
“It sounds like a horrific situation and one that took place in the presence of children. Our thoughts go out to everyone impacted,” he was quoted as saying by WA Today.
Cook said the state government had committed more than A$800 million in additional funding since taking office and would continue working with communities and advocacy groups to tackle the issue.
However, domestic violence advocates said more funding was needed given the scale of the problem.
Jolene Ellat, chief executive of the Domestic Violence Training and Support Institute, said current funding levels were insufficient.
“We need to see that investment increase to match the scale of the crisis that it is,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tan’s family has launched a fundraising appeal to support her three children following her death.
The campaign had collected about A$58,261, equivalent to approximately RM171,000, at the time of reporting.
The funds are intended to help cover the children’s childcare and education costs, daily expenses and other immediate needs while the family comes to terms with Tan’s death.
