Velvet Pesu, a beloved Brisbane singer and carer whose powerful voice graced stages from Kangaroo Point’s Brisbane Jazz Club to venues across the city has been found dead at a Logan property, sparking a police investigation that has stretched across state borders.
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Ms Pesu, 46, a regular performer at Brisbane Jazz Club and other local venues, was discovered with injuries on the back deck of a rural property on Waterford Tamborine Road at Buccan around 2.30am on Monday, 12 January. Police attended the location following a welfare check after her family reported her missing hours earlier.
Ms Pesu had last been seen at The Gap on Saturday evening after dropping a family member at a party. When she failed to return home, concerned relatives contacted authorities, leading police to the five-acre property where she had been working as a carer.
The homeowner, 36-year-old Wael Abdallah Saleem Alfar—Ms Pesu’s client—was not present when police made the discovery. He was subsequently arrested in Kempsey on the NSW Mid North Coast following an alleged high-speed police pursuit that authorities say reached speeds of approximately 200 kilometres per hour.
NSW Police alleged the pursuit covered roughly 80 kilometres from Coffs Harbour through Valla, Nambucca Heads, Macksville, Warrell Creek and Eungai Creek. During the chase, police claim Alfar swerved harshly at officers after they had deployed road spikes, forcing them to take cover behind barricades for safety.
Alfar, a mechanic originally from Sydney who had relocated to Queensland in 2024, has been charged with police pursuit and driving whilst licence suspended. He appeared briefly in a NSW bail court, where Magistrate Lisa Viney refused bail, noting his criminal history contained matters of violence. However, no charges have been laid in connection with Ms Pesu’s death.
Queensland homicide detectives have travelled to NSW to interview Alfar as part of their ongoing investigation. The cause of Ms Pesu’s death remains undetermined pending post-mortem examination results.
A Life Dedicated to Music and Helping Others
With more than 26 years in the music industry, Ms Pesu had established herself as an experimental visual artist and musician who graced stages at prestigious events including the Woodford Folk Festival, Korean Experimental Art Festival and Off Other Film Festival. She had performed just days before her death, according to social media posts.
Ms Pesu’s mother, Margie Pesu, explained that her daughter was a drummer and singer who initially ran drumming workshops before transitioning into caring work with people living with disabilities to support herself financially.
But Ms Pesu’s compassion extended far beyond her professional duties. Her daughters described her as courageous, kind and generous—someone who regularly ventured out late at night with bakery goods to help people experiencing homelessness. She had also purchased musical instruments for children in Zimbabwe to help them connect with their cultural heritage through music.
According to additional reporting, Ms Pesu was director of the Heart Health Foundation, which provided music therapy and meal assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
Tributes Pour In From Brisbane Arts Community
The Brisbane music scene has been left reeling by the loss of an artist remembered for both her extraordinary talent and her compassionate spirit.
The Presynct, a Brisbane venue where Ms Pesu had performed twice in 2025, paid tribute to the singer’s unforgettable presence. “Velvet played twice at The Presynct in 2025 and anyone who was in the room will remember it—her voice didn’t just fill the space, it stopped it,” the venue stated. “Powerful, soulful, and utterly unforgettable. There was something truly special about the way her voice resonated through our venue and straight into the hearts of everyone listening.”
Friend Laura expressed her shock at the tragedy: “Devastated to hear of the senseless death of beloved Velvet Pesu, wonderful artist and musician. I cannot fathom what her daughters and family must be going through.”
Another friend, Eva, shared how Ms Pesu had inspired her both personally and artistically. “In memory of Velvet Pesu and her incredible heart. This woman moved me to tears with her openness, warmth, and radiance. She inspired me to be more brave with my expression.”
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Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie has described the death as tragic. Acting Inspector Justin Anderson from Logan CID emphasised that investigators are working to piece together the circumstances leading to Ms Pesu’s death.
Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage of vehicles travelling east along Acton Street towards Waterford Tamborine Road between 7.30pm on Saturday, 10 January and 2.30pm on Sunday, 11 January to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Published 14-January-2026
