Two children home when mother was allegedly killed, partner in custody for questioning

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A Perth man arrested in connection to the sudden death of his partner, allegedly crashed his car a short time later before staggering into a nearby stranger’s home and attempting to self-harm.

Steven Dean, 37, was taken into custody for questioning by police on Berwick Street in St James around 8.30pm on Monday, 45 minutes after his partner, Emmerich Lasaker, 35, was found inside their Kewdale home with significant injuries. No charges have been laid against Dean.

Steven Dean, 37, is under police guard in hospital following the death of his partner, Emmerich Lasaker, 35, and a subsequent car crash.

Police and St John Ambulance administered first aid to Lasaker before she was conveyed to Royal Perth Hospital, where she later died.

A neighbour who lived close to the Knutsford Avenue home was in tears as she told Nine News Perth she heard screams coming from the property where two young girls lived. WA Police said the children were in the home at the time of the incident.

A boy who lived on the same street said he knew the children from school and saw them crying in the street moments after the alleged attack.

Police said they were also investigating “a possible link” between Lasaker’s death and an armed robbery a short time later at a service station on the corner of Kent and Berwick Streets in East Victoria Park.

The car crashed at a St James intersection.

Police then allege that Dean crashed his vehicle – a grey Ford Ranger Raptor dual-cab utility – on Berwick Street, near the intersection of Emily Street in St James, before he fled to a nearby property.

St James residents Shane and Shaun Lowe said the impact of the crash shook their house.

“I reckon he was doing 140km/h, easy,” Shane said.

“There was no break, no screeching, nothing. Just an almighty bang. I’ve never heard anything like it.

Police examine a car outside a Kewdale property where a woman died on Monday evening.Credit: Rebecca Peppiatt

“I braced because I thought it was going to come through the house.

“As I came out, all I’ve seen is steam and smoke coming off the tree and I’ve looked and I’ve just seen the Raptor do its last flip, so he must have got airborne.”

The couple then saw the driver get out of the car and stagger over the road, screaming about his eyes.

Another neighbour took the driver into her house to wash his eyes out over the sink, which is when he allegedly tried to self-harm.

Homicide detectives and forensic officers were examining the scene where a woman died on Monday.Credit: Rebecca Peppiatt

“He’s gone into the house and said ‘Help, help, my eyes’ and she took him to the kitchen sink to wash his eyes and then he grabbed a knife and he goes, ‘Is there kids here, because they’re not going to like what they see’,” Shane said.

“And she said to him, ‘Please just leave’ and then he ran out the back.”

Dean was then allegedly tasered multiple times by police who arrested him. On Tuesday, he remained in hospital under police guard and was in a stable condition with injuries believed to have been caused by the car crash.

No charges have been laid.

On Tuesday, homicide detectives and forensic officers were examining the Kewdale home where the incident took place, looking closely at vehicles parked at the front of the house, the front yard and the property’s letter box.

Detectives are seeking information regarding the man’s movements between Kewdale and St James.

Anyone who has CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone vision of a grey Ford Ranger Raptor dual-cab utility with sports striping, being driven in those areas, is asked to make contact via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.

Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au) and beyondblue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au).

with Ashtyn Hiron

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