Queensland
(Bundaberg)
British Tourist
Caroline Suttle
11th April
2002
Body
found under bridge
The body of
a woman has been found under a road bridge at Bundaberg, north of Brisbane.
A police patrol
crew found the woman at about 10.30pm (AEST) yesterday under the Burnett
Bridge in Bundaberg's Lion Park. Police said the woman had not been identified
and they will continue their investigations today. Source:
News
Interactive
MEDIA
RELEASE
Police identify
Bundaberg victim
Police have
identified a woman whose body was found under a bridge in Bundaberg last
night.
The woman
is Caroline Ann Stuttle, 19, from Yorkshire, England.
Ms Stuttle
was on holidays in Australia and her family have been advised of the tragedy.
Police have
set up a phone line for anyone concerned about the well being of a relative
or friend travelling in the Bundaberg area. The 24-hour phone number is
1800 451 399.
Ms Stuttle
walked from a nearby caravan park across the bridge and to the Bundaberg
CBD to telephone a friend in the United Kingdom from a public phone. After
the phone call at 9.15pm, she contacted her travelling companion via mobile
phone, advising her that she was on her way back to the caravan park.
At 9.32pm
police received an anonymous call reporting screams at the bridge.
Anyone who
was in the park between 9 – 10pm are asked to contact police. Police are
particularly anxious to speak with three young men, believed to be in their
teens/early 20’s who were in the park around this time. It is believed
that these men may have information to assist police.
Investigating
officer, Detective Inspector Oliphant stated that the woman was of a small
stature and was possibly robbed and thrown from the bridge. He advised
that an examination of the scene found the victim’s thongs on the ground
on the opposite side of the bridge to where Ms Stuttle was found.
Anybody with
any information should call the Major Incident Room which has been established
on 4153 9054 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Note: Kirsten
Roos, Media Liaison Officer, is in Bundaberg and can be contacted on 0419
689 736.
Issued by
Tim White – 3364 4193, Media and Public Relations Branch
Body Identified.
CAROLINE
A STUTTLE
12th
April
Police
release identikit in relation to backpacker's murder
Police investigating
the death of a British tourist in Bundaberg, in southern Queensland, have
released a description of a man aged between 25 and 30 who may be able
to help with their inquiries.
It is believed
19-year-old Caroline Stuttle was robbed and thrown from a local bridge
on Wednesday night. Police have posted a sketch on their website of a solid
built man, with collar-length brown hair and a fair complexion. He is 173
centimetres tall and police say he was last seen walking closely behind
Ms Stuttle as she crossed the bridge. He was wearing a striped T-shirt,
shorts and joggers.
Police have
completed a doorknock within the area of the bridge and at police headquarters,
there has been a steady stream of people coming in for interviews.Tourism
industry leaders say Queensland is a safe destination for travellers, despite
the murder of a British backpacker in Bundaberg on Wednesday.
News of Ms
Stuttle's death has prompted concerns in the British media about the safety
of backpacking in Queensland.Daniel Gschwind from the Queensland Tourism
Industry Council says fears about rising crime rates are unfounded."I think
there is no trend, there is no systemic issue here, what we do have is
partly tragic accidents and then also tragic crimes," he said."And there
is certainly nothing in relation that targets tourists, specifically there
is nothing to make us in any way more dangerous than any other place on
earth."
Source: ABC
News, National Nine News TCN Ch9
15th April
Still
no lead in British backpacker murder
It is four
days since British backpacker Caroline Stuttle was found murdered in the
southern Queensland city of Bundaberg and investigators are still looking
for a positive lead. The body of the 19-year-old was found beneath the
main traffic bridge in the city last Wednesday night.Despite a large number
of witness accounts from residents, others on the bridge and local incident
reports, police have not nailed down a clear suspect.
DNA samples have
been taken from everyone interviewed and a man of no fixed address was
brought in for questioning on Saturday, but police later cleared him as
a suspect. Detective Terry Borland is now appealing for information on
an incident last Thursday morning outside the central Bundaberg cafe. "A
women has witnessed a guy sitting at a table who has just hit his head
on the umbrella and just thrown the umbrella," he said.
Meanwhile, prayers
will be offered tonight for the Stuttle family at a gathering to pray for
rain. SourceSource:
ABC
News Monday 15th April 2002
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