WA murder: Mother of Mauwa ‘Melanie’ Kizenga shares heartbreak over daughter’s alleged Balga stabbing murder

The heartbroken mother of a young woman allegedly murdered in an “unprovoked” attack in Balga has described her daughter as being “full of life” — who meant “everything” to her grieving family.

And, tragically, she revealed that Mauwa Kizenga — who had only moved back to Perth from Melbourne a month ago to care for her — was due to start a new mining job on Monday before her senseless death.

Ms Kizenga, 22, was allegedly stabbed to death in front of her cousin as they walked on Walderton Avenue on Saturday night.

Locals pinned down Clarence Jalloh, 30, in the driveway of a nearby duplex on Wittering Crescent, carrying out a citizen’s arrest. He was later charged with her murder.

Speaking at the family home just hours after Mr Jalloh faced Perth Magistrates Court for the first time, Ms Kizenga’s emotional mother Petronia Wabiwa told of her heartache.

Distraught family and friends of Ms Kizenga had gathered at the home in Perth’s northern suburbs to support each other in the wake of the tragedy.

Police described the alleged attack on Ms Kizenga as “violent and completely unprovoked”, adding it appeared there was no apparent motive.

Ms Wabiwa spoke about her eldest daughter in glowing terms, describing a young lady who was social and hard-working.

Ms Wabiwa, who is understood to originally be from the Democratic Republic of Congo, told The West Australian her daughter was “full of life” and did so much for her and her three younger siblings.

“She was a very lovely girl,” Ms Wabiwa said, speaking through a translator.

“She was outspoken and got along with other people, she was full of life and she loved to enjoy herself, going out and making friends.

“She was very hardworking and she was always there for her mother and her siblings.

“She always used to set up her young siblings’ birthdays, she bought me special clothes.”

Ms Wabiwa recounted how she and her family came to Australia in 2009, where her eldest daughter would end up becoming one of the family’s main breadwinners.

“She had a job in Victoria but then she got a job here at the mines which she was supposed to start today (Monday),” Ms Wabiwa said.

Det-Sen. Sgt Katharine Venn, of the homicide squad, on Sunday said that Ms Kizenga was in Balga “visiting a family member” and “walking between homes” before she was stabbed.

Paramedics tried desperately to save her before rushing her to Royal Perth Hospital, where she later died.

After being questioned by detectives for most of Sunday, Mr Jalloh faced Perth Magistrates Court wearing a blue forensics jumpsuit.

He spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the charge, which was read to him by Magistrate Joe Randazzo.

Mr Randazzo told the court that he had received a report from a clinical nurse who examined Mr Jalloh prior to the hearing.

“This accused has a long history of mental health,” Mr Randazzo said, adding the report cited that Mr Jalloh only had a “partial insight” into his mental health issues.

Mr Jalloh was remanded into custody and he will appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on April 17.

Several people — believed to be friends and family of Mr Jalloh — were in court for the brief hearing.

It is understood the accused had links to Perth’s Liberian community and outside court, Dave Jallah, who said he was representing Perth’s Liberian community at the court hearing, said his sympathies were with Ms Kizenga’s family.

“We are only here to sympathise with the bereaved family and we want to say sorry for what happened, this shouldn’t happen in our community,” he said.

“We are all feeling very sad ... this shouldn’t have happened. It’s a difficult time.”

Liberal Leader Libby Mettam on Monday said her thoughts went out to Ms Kizenga’s family and “the whole community that have been rocked by this tragedy”.

“No woman should expect to be assaulted and be a victim on Western Australian streets,” she said.

“What has happened is completely inexcusable and unacceptable.”

On Monday, a GoFundMe page was set up to help Ms Kizenga’s family with funeral costs.

“Mauwa was only 22 years old with her entire life ahead of her. She was filled with love, life and laughter,” the fundraising page says.

“A soul with so much light has gone too soon. An untimely death that no parent wishes for their child.

“A cruel death that nobody wishes for their loved ones.”