Semi-professional Perth basketballer accused of murdering his girlfriend
The woman who died in an alleged murder at her Doubleview flat on Saturday has been identified as Stephanie Lee Robinson.
The 30-year-old woman was in in a "complicated relationship" according to her Facebook status since November 2, 2020, with one male friend posting "you deserve better".
Stephanie Lee Robinson's body was found dead in a burning home in Doubleview by emergency services on Saturday morning, January 2, 2021.Credit:Facebook
Semi-professional West Australian basketballer Chudier Thowath Pal, 29, will face Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday morning charged with murdering his girlfriend.
Mr Thowath Pal was taken into custody just before 2.30pm on Saturday after a city-wide manhunt by WA Police was sparked earlier that day by the discovery of a woman's body inside a house fire in Ravenscar Street, Doubleview.
Officers were called to the scene just after 7am on Saturday after firefighters discovered the body inside what is believed to be the shared home of Mr Thowath Pal and Ms Robinson. The matter was investigated as suspicious.
Chudier Thowath Pal, 29, has been arrested by police. Credit:Facebook
The deceased woman's family has been notified of her death. She was not the mother of Mr Thowath Pal's two young children.
A resident claimed on social media to have seen the couple walking along near Huntriss Road and Sackville Terrace the day before, "laughing happily" together before entering her flat.
Mr Pal started his basketball career as a junior with the Rockingham Flames at the age of 17, before signing with the North West Tasmanian Thunder in 2017 and Mandurah Magic in 2018.
The Kenyan-born center also spent a number of years playing college basketball in the US with the University of North Carolina Asheville Bulldogs and signed up as a training player with the Perth Wildcats after returning from America in 2016.
The 29-year-old returned to the Flames after playing one season with Mandurah Magic.
He currently remains in custody.
Marta is an award-winning photographer and journalist with a focus on social justice issues and local government.
Aja Styles is a digital culture editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.