THE family of the eight-year-old schoolgirl who police believe was murdered in an apparently random attack in Perth have spoken out about their grief.
"We are all devastated by the sudden and senseless loss,'' the family said today.
"We have received immense support from the police, the parish and from the school community which we greatly appreciate.
"We understand the interest of the media and the public following this awful criminal act but ask that you respect our privacy and allow us to deal with our grief."
A 21-year-old man from the Perth suburb of Canning Vale has been charged with the wilful murder of the eight-year-old, who was found in a toilet at a Perth shopping centre.
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The girl's body was discovered by her brother in a disabled toilet at Canning Vale's Livingston Marketplace Shopping Centre, in the city's south-east, about 4.20pm yesterday.
Police arrested the man, a part-time shop-worker who lives with his parents, early today.
He has been charged him with wilful murder, deprivation of liberty and unlawful sexual penetration.
Detective Sergeant John Wibberley said: "We will alleged it was a spur-of-the-moment attack.
"It is probably the worst nightmare for any family.''
The girl's father, who was away in Hong Kong, is flying home today.
It is believed the girl was a student at Mater Christi Catholic Primary School, Yangebup. Police said counsellors have been sent to the school to speak to the victim's friends and fellow students.
Police are continuing to trawl through video footage from the centre to confirm the charged man's movements.
The girl was with her uncle, a brother and a sister at the Canning Vale shopping centre yesterday when she went to the toilet.
Her siblings and uncle waited nearby but when she did not return within a few minutes they searched the male and female toilets, but could not open the disabled toilet.
After a frantic search the girl's body was found a short time later in the disabled toilet by the brother.
The teenager saw the man leave the toilet and chased him a short distance down a hall before returning to make the grim find.
Teams of police were yesterday interviewing staff and shoppers, who arrived to find the centre closed yesterday.
Det Sgt Wibberley said the girl was out of sight of family members for between 10 to 20 minutes.
The man is believed to have stayed in the area near the centre until about 5pm.
Police are calling for staff or shoppers who may have seen anyone acting suspicious between 3pm and 4.30pm to come forward.
There were unconfirmed reports the girl was strangled.
The toilet where the girl's body was found is in a well-used area of the complex, near the entrance to a Big W store.
Forensic investigations are still being carried out at the Canning Vale murder site.
"It is a terrible thing to happen, a terrible thing. It is always every parent's fear when their children go missing in shopping centres,'' Sgt Wibberley said.
A mobile investigation unit has been set up outside the shopping centre.
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