Cameron Pearson: Man accused of lawyer Alice McShera’s brutal Crown Towers hotel room murder fights charge

The man who allegedly murdered family lawyer Alice McShera at Crown Towers will fight the accusation at trial, entering a not guilty plea on the anniversary of her tragic death. Police said Ms McShera, 34, was found with serious head injuries inflicted by a blunt instrument on October 30 last year. Cameron Pearson — who is believed to have been her partner — was found in the same room at the luxury Burswood hotel with serious self-inflicted injuries. The 43-year-old appeared in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison on Wednesday and entered a plea of not guilty. His first appearance in the Supreme Court will be on December 9. Police say Ms McShera was staying at the hotel while attending a legal profession gala. Inspector Geoff DeSanges said family had been trying to contact her and Crown security then made the tragic discovery. It “would have been an extremely confronting scene”, he said. Ms McShera’s apparent final social media post indicated that she was happy and healthy inside the hotel room, saying that she was “loving life”. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes and grief from friends and colleagues. Ms McShera was an experienced advocate and barrister, having been admitted to practise more than ten years ago. Before appearing in both WA’s Supreme Court and magistrates courts, she had worked as an associate to a WA Family Court judge. She specialised in family law cases, custody issues, restraining orders and child support. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)