Carer found dead hours before police chase identified as Brisbane artist

The carer found dead hours before her client was allegedly involved in a high-speed police chase has been identified as a Brisbane performer as police call for possible witnesses to come forward.

The family of 46-year-old artist Velvet Pesu reported her missing about 1am on Monday.

Police travelled to the house of client Wael Abdallah Saleem Alfar on Waterford Tamborine Road in Buccan, Logan, where they allegedly found her body with significant injuries.

Officers tracked him to northern NSW, and police from that state attempted to stop him near Coffs Harbour about 3pm.

He allegedly refused to pull over, and a high-speed chase continued about 80 kilometres through Valla, Nambucca Heads, Macksville, Warrell Creek and Eungai Creek.

The 36-year-old driver crashed into a culvert at Stuarts Point Road in Yarrahapinni, where he was arrested. He was taken to Kempsey Police Station and charged relating the pursuit.

Alfar has not been charged with any offences linked to the death of Persu.

Media teams were camped outside her home in Ashgrove on Tuesday afternoon, and her family were yet to decide if they would make a public statement.

Pesu has a significant online following and played at several major venues and events across the region including the Woodford Folk Festival.

“Velvet describes her art and life as inseparable,” a professional profile said.

“Her work seeks to provide a glimpse into the incomplete and ephemeral nature of human experience, and aims to magnify that beauty within society that is often unnoticed.”

Forensic police remained at the Logan crime scene late into Monday night.

“The man is expected to face court in NSW and detectives … will be travelling to speak to [him],” a Queensland police spokesperson said.

“Police will await results of a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of the woman’s death.”

On Tuesday afternoon investigators said they were appealing for anyone with dash-camera or CCTV footage from the area to come forward.

“Investigations remain ongoing,” a statement said.

Logan district Acting Detective Inspector Justin Anderson said SES workers would search the five-acre Buccan property, including a dam.

“We’ll be looking for anything that may assist in bringing us answers as to what has happened leading up to this woman’s death,” he said.

Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie said the sudden death was a “tragic circumstance” and the homicide squad was involved in the investigation.

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