Queensland Police will extradite a man from New South Wales to face a murder charge following the discovery of a well-known folk singer's body at a property south of Brisbane.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The sequence of events began when a relative reported 46-year-old Velvet Pesu missing in the early hours of Monday morning. She was last seen at The Gap in north Brisbane around 7pm on Saturday. Just over two hours after the report, police discovered Ms Pesu's body at the rear of a home on Waterford-Tamborine Road in Buccan.
Officers had gone to the address after learning it was the residence of a man for whom Ms Pesu worked as a carer. The tragic discovery immediately triggered a search for the male occupant of the house.
High-Speed Chase and Arrest
The search culminated on Monday afternoon, approximately 465 kilometres south of the crime scene. Wa'el Abdallah Saleem Alfar, aged 36, was arrested on the NSW Mid North Coast following a high-speed car pursuit. He initially faced charges related to the police chase, which were mentioned in a NSW bail court on Tuesday.
By Wednesday, Queensland Police confirmed their intention to seek his extradition. A warrant has been issued for Alfar's arrest for the offence of murder concerning the death of the Ashgrove woman.
Ongoing Investigation and Tributes
Detective Acting Inspector Justin Anderson stated that Ms Pesu had visited Alfar regularly in her professional capacity as his carer. He emphasised the investigation remains in its early stages. "We don't know the cause of death at this stage," Det Insp Anderson said. "We need to keep an open mind until we find out what the cause of death is." A post-mortem examination will be crucial.
Forensic officers and State Emergency Service crews conducted a thorough search of the five-acre rural property in Buccan throughout Monday.
Meanwhile, heartfelt tributes have poured in for the talented performer. Brisbane councillor Seal Chong Wah described her friend as "incredible" and "generous," highlighting Ms Pesu's philanthropic work helping people experiencing homelessness and her boundless creativity in singing, drumming, and art.
Alfar has been remanded in custody in NSW until February 25 for sentencing on the traffic matters. Queensland Police will proceed with the extradition request once those proceedings are finalised. No plea has been entered to the murder charge, and police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
