Man, 21, arrested over woman’s stabbing death at luxury Adelaide CBD home
Police have charged a young man over the stabbing death of 39-year-old Kim Chau, whose body was found last night “concealed” in the luxury home of two senior State Government executives. The man had been living at the home on and off for two years.
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A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after a woman was stabbed to death at the luxury city home of two senior State Government executives.
Police found the body of 39-year-old restaurant worker Kim Chau at a Sturt St home — owned by Labor power couple SA Health deputy chief executive Donald Frater and his wife Human Services Department deputy chief executive Lois Boswell — just before 6pm last night.
Ms Chau, who had lived with the couple at the house for the past 12 months, was reported missing to police on Sunday but authorities believed she was killed on Friday.
They said her body was hidden in an upstairs bedroom and other occupants of the house would not have known she was dead.
Major Crime detectives arrested a 21-year-old man, who had lived at the Sturt St property on and off for two years but now lived at a crisis accommodation centre on Waymouth St on Tuesday afternoon.
Detective Superintendent Des Bray said the man was “very quiet” when police took him into custody over the “horrific attack”.
“There were some things in particular that made this person stand out, certainly proximity was one of those things,” he said.
“They are known to each other. He’s lived at the (Sturt St) premises on and off for a period of two years.
“We’re not looking for any other offenders in relation to this matter,” he said.
It is unclear when the man moved out of the Sturt St home or how he entered the premises to allegedly attack Ms Chau.
The man was taken to the City Watchhouse for questioning and was charged with murder late Tuesday.
Det Supt Bray explained how Ms Chau’s body went unnoticed for two days.
“The body had been concealed so anybody going about daily activities in the house, walking through the house, going into rooms, wouldn’t have seen the victim,” he said.
Supt Bray said Ms Chau “led a blameless life” and was the victim of a “horrible crime”.
It is understood police have seized a weapon they suspect was used in the attack and are forensically examining it.
Police confirmed neither Mr Frater nor Ms Boswell were involved in the woman’s death, saying “they’re probably just as shocked as anybody”.
Earlier on Tuesday, Supt Bray revealed that police believed Ms Chau’s alleged killer returned to the home after the attack and took her car from Chatham St.
The silver BMW was later found in a carpark near the intersection of Waymouth St and West Tce.
He said Ms Chau was reported missing by concerned friends after she did not arrive for work and missed a social event she was expected to attend.
The last confirmed sighting of her was at 11.30pm on Thursday.
The Advertiser understands Ms Chau moved to Adelaide from the Mid North about five years ago for new opportunities.
She previously lived in Clare and ran successful business Clare Dragon Restaurant for about 10 years.
Friends said she was a hard worker and a “wonderful” and “very nice person”.
“She will be missed,” one friend said.
Ms Boswell released a statement to The Advertiser this morning.
“(The victim) was a friend who has lived with our family over the last year,” she said.
“While we are devastated by these events, there are family members and friends who are primary in our thoughts this morning.”
Police are doing a sweep of Sturt St, looking for evidence connected to the suspicious death of a woman. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/DHIYNp3stJ
— Elizabeth Henson (@Eliz_henson) September 24, 2019
Close friend Maryam, who asked that her last name be withheld, described Ms Chau as very kind, respectful and considerate.
“What was outstanding in her character was her calmness in dealing with life’s challenges,” she said.
“She never got angry, she was resilient.
“She told me she was living with this family – she said this is joy and happiness of life.”
Maryam said Ms Chau was a “very good cook” but had been looking for a career change after working in the hospitality industry for 10 years.
She said she was studying interior design at TAFE SA and was “very passionate about it”.
“I saw that she was very patient and persistent and that she was very hopeful about the future,” she said.
One neighbour, Steven, said he did not hear anything suspicious at the property.
“We didn’t hear anything,” he said. “We woke up and here was (the police), so we’re just scared but we have no idea what happened.”
Another neighbour, who had only just moved to Adelaide, said the incident was worrying.
“It’s really bad to hear about this,” he said. “I feel sorry for the family of the (woman).”
ABC Radio Adelaide presenter Ali Clarke this morning said on air that the house had once been her home. She said she was shocked to learn the news.
“That’s actually my old house. I got a heck of a shock this morning when I worked out what had happened,” Ms Clarke said.
“Absolutely gutted that something that we renovated and brought back to life and had so much joy in is now going to be the subject of so much sorrow.”
Mr Frater and Ms Boswell are a well-connected Labor left power-couple and have had key high-level roles in previous state and federal Labor governments.
Mr Frater was Federal Opposition Senate Leader Penny Wong’s chief of staff from 2008 to 2010 when she was a Cabinet minister holding climate and water portfolios in Kevin Rudd’s government.
Before that, he was a staffer for the-then state Labor infrastructure and transport minister Patrick Conlon.
Ms Boswell was deputy chief of staff to the-then Labor premier Jay Weatherill from 2011-2013 and executive director, strategic policy in the Premier and Cabinet Department under Mr Weatherill’s predecessor, Mike Rann.
She also was a staffer for Mr Weatherill during his early years as a minister, from 2003-2005, and chief of staff to mental health and substance abuse minister Gail Gago.
The couple’s Victorian-era home last sold six years ago for $941,000.
The house has an interesting history. It was originally a chemist’s shop in the 19th century and was then bought by singer Sydney Cooper, who sold the house in 1928 to Mahomet Allum, an Afghani herbalist.
It was later the office for Romani International Australia and the Australian Romani School of Gypsy Culture and Language.
Anyone who saw the woman’s vehicle in recent days or who has dashcam footage is asked to contact police.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at crimestopperssa.com.au .