As it happened: WA news on Friday, March 6

The family of a mother and son who died in a suspected homicide in Albany last month have opened up about their heartbreak.

Erica Coyne and her son Lloyd Mitchell were found at their Albany unit on February 8 by a family member, who called neighbours to ask for help.

Coyne was found dead at the scene, while 50-year-old Mitchell was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries.

He later died.

The homicide squad is investigating the incident, and Coyne’s niece Janelle said on Friday they are desperate for information about their deaths.

“Those who knew aunty Erica and knew that she was a loving, kind person and her home was her safe place,” she said.

Janelle said her aunty loved her children and grandchildren, and she was an “independent little lady”.

“It’s really tragic something has happened at a place where she felt safe,” she said of the 69-year-old.

“Lloyd’s got a lot of friends, they both have large families, and we’re [all] really hurting.

“Our family would be really appreciative [for any information] that could help get this case solved so we could move on and grieve.

“She really didn’t deserve what happened.”

Senior Sergeant Steve Cleal has repeatedly called for information, and has told the public their reports can remain anonymous.

A shark advice warning has been issued for beachgoers south of Mandurah after a partial whale carcass was reported at Preston Beach in the Shire of Waroona.

Authorities have warned the carcass may act as a possible attractant that could lead to sharks coming close to shore along the southern stretch of coast.

The carcass was reported by a member of the public at about 10am this morning.

Officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, along with staff from other agencies are monitoring the situation and providing advice to relevant authorities.

The department has warned that while sharks may be present along the Western Australian coast throughout the year, people should exercise additional caution.

Sticking with sport news, Dean Vickerman takes heart from Melbourne United’s strong recent record in Perth as he manages a series of injury concerns leading into the cut-throat NBL play-in game.

United moved to the verge of another semi-finals appearance with a gritty win over Tasmania, setting up a high-stakes clash with the Wildcats at RAC Arena on Saturday night.

Finn Delany starred against the JackJumpers with Chris Goulding hampered by a cyst behind his knee and big man Jesse Edwards sidelined with back spasms.

High-energy guard Shea Ili was limited to just eight minutes on his return from the latest of a series of hamstring setbacks.

Goulding and Ili are expected to feature against the Wildcats, though doubt remains over Dutch centre Edwards.

A United spokesperson said all three players were on the team’s flight to Perth on Friday.

The Wildcats fell into the play-in game when they lost their seeding qualifier against South East Melbourne on Wednesday night.

John Rillie’s men have also battled injuries this season with David Duke Jr back from his elbow issue, but Jaron Rillie (hamstring) and David Okwera (foot) are both sidelined for the finals.

Melbourne pipped Perth in a three-game semi-final series last year and edged the latest regular-season series 2-1 with a one-point road win in their most recent meeting in January.

“For whatever reason we play pretty well in Perth and have for a number of years right now,” Vickerman said.

“It’s a great venue to play in, it’s always a crowd that gets after the game and JR’s done a hell of a job with his team this year.”

Retiring star Alyssa Healy is backing Ellyse Perry to prove her fitness for the day-night Test against India, starting in Perth this afternoon.

While a major focus of the upcoming Test has been on Healy’s farewell, there are also big question marks about the make-up of Australia’s XI following a spate of injuries.

New skipper Sophie Molineux (back) and Kim Garth (quad) have already been ruled out of the Test, while Perry is no guarantee to play after missing the three-match ODI series with a quad injury.

Perry has trained with the side in the lead-up to the pink ball Test, but if she plays, it will be as a batter only.

“For her to be able to take part in this series again is huge,” Healy said.

“From all reports it wasn’t exactly a straightforward niggle that she had, so her ability to get back up for this game is pretty remarkable.

“Playing Test cricket for us girls is few and far between at times. So I think she’ll be chomping at the bit to get out there.”

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Police say they’re still attempting to understand how a woman died, and her son was left in a coma at a home in Albany last month.

Police say they were called to the Albany home on Burville Street at 3.10pm on February 8, after a witness came across a woman dead at the property and called neighbours for help.

The woman’s son, a 50-year-old man, was also found at the house with life-threatening injuries, and was flown to Royal Perth Hospital where he stayed while in a coma. He has since died.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Cleal said on Friday officers were still investigating what happened.

“This is an unimaginable loss for the victims’ loved ones, and our detectives are determined to uncover every fact and hold whoever is responsible to account. Someone in the community knows something, and we are asking them to come forward,” he said.

“Any piece of information, big or small – no matter how insignificant you think it is – could lead us to the answers the victims’ family deserves.”

Foundation Housing has been selected to manage the former Fraser Suites hotel site currently being converted into a social and affordable rental complex.

The controversial purchase of the Fraser Suites for $105 million last year and subsequent refit to turn it from hotel to housing has not won over locals concerned about anti-social behaviour and parking issues.

But Housing Minister John Carey has in the past said whichever community housing company was selected would be able to deal with problem tenants.

Foundation Housing has started preparing to take over the building including vetting prospective tenants.

Residents were expected to be moving into the building this month.

Carey also announced Volunteering WA would take over a commercial lease of the bottom floor of the building.

“Appointing Foundation Housing Limited ensures this development will be professionally managed by an experienced provider with a strong track record of supporting, selecting and managing tenancies,” he said.

“Last year’s $105 million acquisition – the largest of its kind in our state’s history – was a bold move to boost affordable and social housing quickly, in a well-serviced area.”

WA Police have led a taskforce targeting the Comancheros Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, as part of a coordinated National Day of Action held on Thursday.

Taskforce Morpheus is a cross jurisdictional initiative, including New Zealand and other Australian states, established to collaboratively target and disrupt criminal activities associated with outlaw bikie gangs.

The taskforce includes the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office and Services Australia.

The National Day of Action was focused on disrupting and dismantling the organisational capability of the Comancheros, according to police.

Across the country and New Zealand, police executed search warrants and arrest warrants, and targeted illicit firearms, weapons, drugs and traffic related offences.

Further actions undertaken by law enforcement agencies included conducting Firearms Protection Order compliance checks, bail compliance checks, and dispersal or consorting related offences.

In total, Taskforce Morpheus resulted in 56 arrests, 168 charges, 37 firearms compliance checks, 51 search warrants executed, four visa cancellation referrals and several items being seized including illicit drugs, firearms and cash.

The iconic Sculptures by the Sea event is returning to Cottesloe Beach for 2026 after a hiatus due to the loss of federal funding – a move that “felt like a funeral” for artists at the time.

But now the event is back, opening this morning just before for an autumn scorcher, with the mercury predicted to soar to 38 degrees on Saturday.

More than 200,000 people are expected to head down to Cottesloe throughout March to take a look at the free exhibition.

There will be more than 70 works on display.

Local artist Stephanie Di Biasi has created her own version of a seagrass meadow, strung up and suspended in midair across the pine trees along the foreshore.

“It’s really one of the most important things in the ocean –seagrass provides oxygen and stores carbon – it’s the lungs of the ocean,” she said.

“I just thought it was a beautiful thing to represent in my work.”

It will be the event’s 21st year running and will be on until March 23.

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