Life sentence for Cameron John Pearson, 44, over gruesome murder of a Perth barrister inside a Crown Towers hotel room

Warning: Distressing content

A man who “lost it” and fatally bludgeoned a barrister with a champagne bottle in a Crown Towers hotel room after she wanted to end their relationship has been sentenced.

Cameron James Pearson, 44, must serve at least 19 years in jail before he is eligible for parole after pleading guilty to the murder of Alice McShera, 34, who he killed on October 30, 2023.

The WA Supreme Court was told Pearson struck the lawyer with force up to nine times when she told him she wanted to leave the relationship.

The couple had used methamphetamines and alcohol and had been staying at Crown for a number of days when Pearson “lost it”, the court was told.

Ms McShera’s body was discovered by hotel staff after her family contacted Crown concerned for her welfare when she did not show up to a hospital appointment.

A hotel worker tried to access the room but Pearson slammed the door in their face.

Staff soon returned with security when they made the gruesome discovery, finding Pearson in his underwear bleeding from slit wrists in a bath with a broken champagne glass stem.

Ms McShera’s bloodied body was found on the floor with deep lacerations and a champagne bottle standing next to her head.

The court was told Pearson tried to take his own life after Crown staff knocked on the door.

Prosecutor Justin Whalley said Pearson told police they had an argument in the bathroom when she was putting on makeup and had made a comment about leaving him.

The court heard Pearson told police: “I lost it and hit her over the head.”

Pearson admitted in a police interview that he struck Ms McShera in the back of her head with a champagne bottle causing her to fall to the ground, then struck her multiple times in the face.

Ms McShera suffered lacerations that penetrated her scalp, skull fractures, bleeding on the brain and haemorrhaging during the attack.

“There was evidence of a traumatic brain injury, lacerations and widespread haemorrhaging,” Mr Whalley said.

Pearson’s lawyer Simon Buchen argued it was an entirely spontaneous crime and the weapon was not intentionally brought to the crime scene to inflict fatal wounds.

“There was a very short duration of sounds heard by people at the hotel,” he said.

“The offender’s conduct was completely out of character.”

Justice Michael Gething said Ms McShera was an entirely innocent victim of Pearson’s senseless violence during the unprovoked attack.

He said Pearson described to police the brutality of his attack as an 8 of 10 when he used a champagne bottle as an improvised weapon, killing her.

“Ms McShera did not know you were about to strike her, she would have been powerless,” he said.

“Ms McShera was your intimate partner. There is a high degree of trust inherent in an intimate relationship.

“It was this trust which meant that Ms McShera was alone in a hotel room with you, vulnerable to your offending.

“You abused her trust and exploited her vulnerability in the most callous way possible.

“You did not seek any medical assistance for Ms McShera after you hit her ... you covered her in towels and just chilled in the room.

“Your murder is a very serious example of intimate partner violence.”

Justice Gething sentenced Pearson to life in prison with a minimum term of 19 years before he is eligible for parole.

Domestic Violence helplines