News
July News 1-31
1 July
Parents located
The parents
of a two-year-old child found wandering along the Gold Coast Highway yesterday
have been located. Police are continuing to speak with them today.
Source: Qld
Police Media Release
Escaped asylum
seekers 'abandoned' in freezing outback
(AFP) - Ten
of 35 escapees from an immigration detention centre were still free after
being dumped without food or shelter in the freezing Australian outback.The
recaptured 25, including two juveniles, were due to appear in court at
Port Augusta 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Woomera on charges of
escaping from lawful custody. Source:
Asia
Pacific News
Police Appeal
For Help Identifying Injured Glebe Woman
About 12.20pm
on Wednesday, 26 June, the woman and a slow-moving truck collided on Bridge
Road, 80m from the intersection with Ross Street in Glebe. She is described
as being of white/European appearance, aged between 60 and 70, about 160cm
tall, with a slim/frail build, grey shoulder-length hair worn in a plait
and with brown colouring through part of the hair. At the time of the collision
she was wearing a long-sleeved blue skivvy, knitted cream cardigan with
buttons at the front, burgundy pants and light tan suede moccasins. Anyone
who can identify the woman is urged to contact the Leichhardt Local Area
Command Police on (02) 9552 8099 or Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000.
Source: NSW
Police Media Release
July
3
Missing Burpengary
man returns home.
An 81-year-old
Burpengary man reported missing yesterday returned home last night. Police
were advised at midnight that Mr Hunter had returned home safe and well
after a day out.
Source: Qld
Police Media Release
4th
July | The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) Page 27
In a city
where no one can hear you scream. The Daily Telegraph reported today that
a woman has been in a coma in hospital for eight days and police do not
know who she is because no-one has reported her missing.
4th July |
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) Page 3
Do you know
me? For eight days this woman has lain in a coma while authorities try
to uncover her identity. FOR eight days she has lain comatose in a hospital
ward, clinging to life with the aid of a machine. She's had no visitors
and not a single get well card. It's not because no one cares. Police simply
do not know her identity.
July
8
Falconio Fake
Death "Disgusting"
Parents of
missing backpacker, Peter Falconio have condemned as disgusting repors
he may have faked his own death. Source:
The Courier-Mail Monday July 8, 2002 p3
Missing Man
After Boat Capsizes
ThePolice
will continue to search today for a 33-year-old Ashcroft man who disappeared
yesterday after the small boat he was in capsized. About 10.30am four males
launched a small aluminium dinghy into the Chipping Norton Lake at Lansvale.
The vessel which had been recently purchased capsized throwing all four
occupants into the water. A 57-year-old man, a 22-year-old man and a 5-year-old
boy were all rescued by a nearby fishing boat but the fourth occupant could
not be located. Cabramatta Police, POLAIR, water police, divers, SES, Waterways,
Lifesaver helicopter and a number of recreational vessels all assisted
in the search which located a number of items of property from the boat.
The search will resume this morning for the missing man with water police
utilising sonar equipment.
Source: NSW
Police Media Release
Brisbane Man
Seen near Fatal Fire Sought
Police investigating
a fire which claimed the life of a woman want to speak with a man seen
near her northside home around the time of the blaze. Rhonda Karen Tyley,
44 when fire engulfed hwer flat in Duff Street, Wavell Heights around 3.45am
Saturday morning. The man is described as being in his early 20s, about
180cm tall, of slim and medium build with brown eyes and an olive complexion.
He had short brown hair with a blade no 2 haircut and was wearing a green
shirt with cream and blue flannelette shirt over the top, light-coloured
jeans and black boots. Contact Police if you see this man.
Source: Source:
The Courier-Mail Monday July 8, 2002 p3
July
12
Appeal For
Witnesses To Attempted Abduction in Melbourne.
Police are
appealing for information from the public after the attempted abduction
of a woman at Burwood on Friday 5 July, 2002. About 12.45pm, a 19-year-old
Croydon woman was walking along Selbourne Street, when a man forced her
into a stolen green 1990-model Ford Falcon sedan, registration number RL-3215.
The woman, who fought with the man and repeatedly kicked him, managed to
escape from the moving vehicle a short distance away. The Ford, which is
still missing, was last seen travelling down Lucas Road towards Parramatta
Road. The man has been described to police as being of Middle Eastern appearance,
aged in his late 20s to 30s, 175 to 180cm tall, light olive skin, very
light brown or hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a white cloth bandana
around his head, possibly with grey tracksuit pants and a brown/orange
tartan shirt. Detectives are particularly interested in speaking with a
man and woman who stopped to speak with the victim shortly after the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Burwood
Detectives on 9745 1333 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Callers to Crime
Stoppers can remain anonymous if they wish and may be eligible for a reward
of up to $1,000. Editors’ Note: Two images of the man police believe may
be able to assist with inquiries and an image of a similar vehicle used
in the attempted abduction are available from the Police Media Unit.
Source: NSW
Police Media Release
July
13
Brother hopes
missing British tourist Falconio will be found
The brother
of missing British tourist Peter Falconio says he has not given up hope
and has confidence in Northern Territory police. Tomorrow is the first
anniversary of the disappearance of Peter Falconio after he and his girlfriend,
Joanne Lees, were attacked by a gunman on the Stuart Highway near Barrow
Creek. Nick Falconio says it is a day the family would rather forget. Mr
Falconio says he is still hopeful of finding his brother alive and he says
he is confident police will find the gunman.
"They'll never
ever give up on the hunt for him and how ever long it takes that they will
catch him," Mr Falconio said. "I'm confident of that, I just don't know
how long it will take.
"It's coming
up for a year, I hope I'm not saying the same thing next year this time,"
he said.
Barrow Creek
Hotel manager Les Pilton says people are once again camping on the roadside
in the vicinity of the abduction attempt, which he sees as a positive development.
"I don't think
it should be that any sort of case like that should sort of make people
hide in pigeon holes all of their life... it's just not worthwhile doing
that, you know - you can't get on, you've got to get on with life and keep
living life," Mr Pilton said. Source:
ABC - NewsMail July 13th
Missing Doonside
boys located
Two boys missing
from Doonside in Sydney’s west since Tuesday have been located safe and
well. Police found the children, aged 8 and 9, at Engadine in Sydney’s
south shortly before 1pm today. The brothers will be taken to Blacktown
Police Station where they’ll be spoken to by investigators about their
disappearance. Police would like to thank the media and members of the
public who assisted in providing information which greatly helped in determining
the whereabouts of the boys. Source:
NSW
Police Media Release
Missing Stockman
located
Searchers
located a man thought to have been missing since yesterday on a property
on the Kilcoy Murgon Road, Jimna. The man, 42, had not been seen since
leaving the property’s homestead to muster cattle. He failed to return
to the homestead, as expected, yesterday. The man was on horseback and
was considered an experienced bushman. Local stockmen conducted a search
late yesterday but had failed to find the man. Police, SES personnel and
other volunteers initiated a ground search at first light today. Helicopters,
including one from a neighbouring property, were used to conduct an aerial
search of the property, which comprises about 20,000 hectares. The man
was located safe and well on the property at 11.15am after spending a cold
night outside. Source:
Qld
Police Media Release
July
14
Melbourne
child abducted from Bed
5 year-old
Samara Tenine was snatched from her bed at 7.15am this morning by two men
clad in balaclavas, one armed with a knife. The men burst in 15 minutes
after her father had left for work. Her mother and sister were unharmed.
Police combed the area on foot and by helicopter and both parents have
been questioned. Samara was wearing blue pajamas with a fairy on the front.
Source: National
9, 2 and ABC TV News
Source: National
9, 2 and ABC TV News
July
15
Girl abducted
in home invasion at knifepoint
Two masked
and armed men snatched a five-year-old from a home in southeast Melbourne
early yesterday after handcuffing her mother to furniture. For rest of
story see The Courier Mail.
Source: The
Courier Mail July 15, 2002 p3
Freed girl
carried warning
THE five-year-old
girl abducted from her Melbourne home carried a warning when she was released
15 hours later. Samara Hnaien was carrying a placard with the words "We
will be back" written on one side and an address and telephone number on
the other, the service station worker who found her said. Abhishek Dasgupta
said the youngster looked lost and barely uttered a word after she wandered
into the Fitzroy service station holding the placard last night. Samara
was snatched from her south-east suburban home in June Street, Highett,
at 7.15am (AEST) yesterday, by two masked men armed with a knife. She was
released last night and walked into the Liberty service station about 10.40pm
(AEST). "When I came (back) in I saw a small girl standing in front of
the counter with a placard in her hand ...," Mr Dasgupta said. He said
that when he and two customers questioned her she said: "Sorry, I can't
help you." She handed over the placard, Mr Dasgupta called the number and
the police came to collect her. "She was very quiet, very cute, very sweet,"
he said. "She just sat quietly. She didn't utter a single word ... she
was lost. There was no emotion ... a blank face." Police said yesterday
there was no obvious motive behind the abduction and would not comment
on whether any demands were made. The intruders entered through the front
door of the family home 15 minutes after her father, Ali Hnaien, left for
work. They handcuffed Samara's mother, Debbie Bick, to furniture and it
was only after she had freed herself that she discovered her daughter was
missing. A baby, also in the house, was not disturbed.
Source: The
Courier Mail & News Interactive Australia
Kidnap girl
'traumatised'
A MOTHER has
told of her pride for her four-year-old daughter, back home after a 15-hour
kidnap ordeal. The Melbourne youngster was traumatised by her experience,
but is now safe and well, her mother and police said today. Deborah Bick
said she was exhilarated to learn her daughter Samara had been released
at an inner Melbourne service station late last night. The youngster was
snatched from her south-east suburban home in June Street, Highett, at
7.15am (AEST) yesterday by two masked men with a knife. She walked into
the Liberty Service Station in Fitzroy at about 10.40pm (AEST) carrying
a placard with "We will be back" written on one side. Ms Bick said the
past day had been "very difficult and very traumatic". She said Samara
slept last night and appeared safe and well. She described her as confident,
stoic, strong and determined. "Those things certainly came through," she
told reporters. "(I am) very proud of her." Detective Inspector Bob Sitlington
said police were unsure whether Samara could provide them with information
about her abductors. "She's been traumatised and we will be waiting to
see what happens in the future," he said. He would not confirm the details
of what was written on the placard found with Samara. However, he said
the girl was wearing different clothes to those she was taken in. She was
wearing a mauve tracksuit top and dark green tracksuit pants when she was
found.
Source: The
Courier Mail & News Interactive Australia
Kidnapped
girl recovered
A FOUR-year-old
girl snatched from her home by two men was recovering well after being
released with a chilling warning that her abductors would return. Samara
Hnaien was abducted from her suburban Melbourne home at 7.15am (AEST) yesterday
by two men in balaclavas who were armed with a knife. A huge land and air
search for the girl ended when she walked into a Fitzroy petrol station
about 10.40pm (AEST) after an appeal by police for the abductors to release
her into a public place. Samara was released in different clothes to what
she'd been wearing when abducted and was carrying a placard that said "We
will be back" on one side and an address and phone number on the other.
The girl's mother, Deborah Bick, today said she was exhilarated by her
daughter's return and very proud of how she coped with the ordeal. "(She
is) confident, stoic, strong, determined and those things came through
with how she is now and today," she said. Ms Bick, who was handcuffed to
furniture while her daughter was abducted, said Samara was recovering at
home and was being reassured she was safe and well. "A crime like this
affects all of us," she said. "We like to think that we are safe within
our own homes and more importantly that our children are safe." Ms Bick
would not comment on a potential motive for the abduction, stating she
wanted the police investigation to proceed "without forewarning those responsible".
Reading from a prepared statement, she pleaded for understanding from the
public. "We are extremely grateful that our daughter has returned to us
unharmed. We would ask you, the media, that you respect our privacy to
enable us and particularly our daughter Samara to attempt to get on with
out lives and recover from this situation," Ms Bick said. "Samara is only
four and we ask for your sensitivity in this matter." Police refused to
confirm the details of what was on the placard, but details were provided
by the service station attendant who found Samara. "She just sat quietly.
She didn't utter a single word ... she was lost," said service station
worker Abhishek Dasgupta told AAP. "There was no emotion ... a blank face."
As speculation
mounted today about a possible link with a business deal involving Samara's
father, Ali Hnaien, police said they were investigating a number of possible
leads. "That's an avenue of the inquiry we will be looking at along with
all others, but we don't want to place any extra weight (on it)," said
Detective Inspector Bob Sitlington, of the police tactical response squad.
He said Samara
had been traumatised by the kidnapping and police were unsure how much
information she could provide about her abductors. "It is important that
we solve this and have the family feeling safe in their community rather
than causing problems for them," he said. Detective Inspector Kim West
said arrangements had been made to ensure the family's safety. "They're
just a very, very normal family, she's a very normal little girl and they've
been through a hell of a lot," he said.
Source: The
Courier Mail & News Interactive Australia
Kidnappers
will return
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD
girl abducted from her Melbourne home has carried a chilling warning back
to police and her parents. Samara Hnaien was carrying a placard with the
words "We will be back" written on one side and an address and telephone
number on the other, the service station worker who found her last night
said today. Abhishek Dasgupta said the youngster looked lost and barely
uttered a word after she wandered into the Fitzroy service station holding
the placard. Samara was snatched from her south-east suburban home in June
Street, Highett, at 7.15am (AEST) yesterday, by two masked men armed with
a knife. She was released last night and walked into the Liberty service
station about 10.40pm (AEST), holding the placard. Her mother, Deborah
Bick, said she was exhilarated to learn her daughter Samara had been returned
to the service station. Ms Bick said the past day had been "very difficult
and very traumatic". She said Samara slept last night and appeared safe
and well. She described her as confident, stoic, strong and determined.
"Those things certainly came through," she told reporters. "(I am) very
proud of her." Detective Inspector Bob Sitlington said police were unsure
whether Samara could provide them with information about her abductors.
"She's been
traumatised and we will be waiting to see what happens in the future,"
he said. He would not confirm the details of what was written on the placard
found with Samara. However, he said the girl was wearing different clothes
to those she was taken in. She was wearing a mauve tracksuit top and dark
green tracksuit pants when she was found. The service station worker said
when he and two customers questioned her last night she said: "Sorry, I
can't help you." She handed over the placard, Mr Dasgupta called the number
and the police came to collect her. "She was very quiet, very cute, very
sweet," he said. "She just sat quietly. She didn't utter a single word
... she was lost. There was no emotion ... a blank face." Police said yesterday
there was no obvious motive behind the abduction. The intruders entered
through the front door of the house 15 minutes after her father, Ali Hnaien,
left for work.
They handcuffed
Samara's mother to furniture and it was only after she had freed herself
that she discovered her daughter was missing. A baby, also in the house,
was not disturbed. Police would not comment on whether any demands were
made. Source: News
Interactive & AAP
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