News
June 13-30
13 June - Search
For Missing Campbelltown Man Continues
Police will
conduct a search of bushland at Airds near Campbelltown this morning for
a man who has failed to return from a bush-walk. Family and friends hold
concerns for the welfare of 26-year-old Sean O’Leary, who spoke with his
mother at 10am yesterday, telling her that he was going for a walk in the
Georges River Nature Reserve. When he failed to return home, his father
alerted police. Sean is intellectually challenged and is described as being
of white/European appearance, 183cm tall, of solid build, and fair complexion.
He has blonde hair, a goatee beard and moustache, and was last seen wearing
dark-coloured tracksuit pants and sneakers. Anyone with information on
his whereabouts is asked to contact Campbelltown Police on 4625-7844 or
Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000. Source:
NSW
Police Media Release
14
June - Concern for missing man
Police hope
the public can help locate a missing 43-year-old man who has not been seen
since Tuesday, 11 June 2002. Phillip Colin Mathews was last
seen by his father when he left his home in Anzac Avenue, Kallangur around
8.30am. Mr Mathews is described as Caucasian, 175cm tall, and has a medium
build, tanned complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes. It is not known
what clothing he was wearing when he left. He left his home in his white
1990 Ford Falcon sedan, Queensland registration 044 EZT. Anyone who believes
they may have seen Mr Mathews or his vehicle should contact Petrie Police
on 3285 0222 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Source:
Qld
Police Media Release
15
June - Police Still Searching For Missing Port Kembla Woman
Lake Illawarra
Police have located a missing Port Kembla man and are continuing their
appeal to locate his partner who has not been seen since early June.
Warilla Detectives
have formed Strike Force Wigtown to investigate the disappearance of 35-year-old
Aruna Verma. Their investigations have located 40-year-old Kaniappa Raju
overseas and he has been in contact with NSW Police. Detective Senior Constable
Martin Church is leading the investigation and says they are concerned
for the welfare of Mrs Verma. “Extensive inquiries so far have failed to
locate Aruna Verma. We believe the last time contact was made with her
was around midday on Sunday June 2 at Port Kembla. “Her disappearance is
totally out of character and we have grave fears for her safety,” he said.
“We believe
Mr Raju and his four children travelled to Queensland from Port Kembla
in the family’s maroon four-wheel-drive Ford Raider. Queensland Police
located the couple’s vehicle on Thursday June 6.
“We are appealing
for people in the Port Kembla and Wollongong areas who may have seen Aruna
Verma or the vehicle described to come forward. “Investigators believe
that her movements on the 2 June may hold the key to her disappearance,”
Detective Church said. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of
Aruna Verma is asked to call Strike Force Wigtown on (02) 42952699 or Crime
Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: NSW
Police Media Release
16
June - Unidentified Queanbeyan man identified
A man, who
attended Queanbeyan Police Station on Wednesday 12 June suffering from
what appears to be amnesia, has been identified. He has been identified
as a Queensland man who recently moved to Canberra. The man was identified
after a friend recognised his picture in media reports. It is expected
he will be released from hospital later this week. Source:
NSW
Police Media Release
17
June - Tasmanian couple sought
Police are
hoping to contact a Tasmanian couple believed to be holidaying in Far North
Queensland. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Gwen and John Bourke of Buckland
in Tasmania are asked to have them contact home in relation to an urgent
family matter. Mrs and Mrs Bourke are travelling in a 1986 maroon and cream
Nissan Navara motor home, registration number CH 7051, and have been staying
in caravan parks in Queensland. They are this week expected to be in an
area between Port Douglas, Cairns and Babinda. Source:
NSW Police Media Release
18 June -
Police to offer reward for murder information
Police investigating
the murder of British backpacker Caroline Stuttle are planning to offer
a substantial monetary reward in exchange for information which may help
solve the case. The 19-year old's body was found under a Bundaberg bridge
in April - it is thought she was robbed and then thrown from the bridge.
Police yesterday started DNA testing men in the Bundaberg area after finding
a saliva sample on the bridge. Detective Inspector Jeff Oliphant says police
plan to test 150 men over the next few days and hope to be able to advertise
a reward for information later this week. Source:
ABC
News Online
20 June (6.25am)
About 11pm
yesterday police received a report of a young child running across a road
near Mt Mee. Police have conducted a search during the night, including
a search by a helicopter, but have not found the child. The search will
be reassessed early this morning.
6.45am: Search
update:
Police have
conducted a search throughout the night following a sighting of a young
child running across Mt Mee Road. A motorist called police about 11pm last
night after seeing the boy, believed about 9 or 10 years old, running across
the road. The man believed the child might have been naked. About the same
time, the man saw a red 4WD vehicle around the same area. Police conducted
a ground and aerial search last night and search experts will re-evaluate
the search this morning. A ground search of an area about one square kilometre
around where the boy was seen is expected to begin about 7.30am today.
Police have not received any reports of a missing child in that area. Anyone
with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
21 June
NSW law delays
Falconio cross-check
Northern Territory
Police Minister Syd Stirling has revealed that foreign DNA samples taken
from Joanne Lees' clothing were distributed to all states for future matches
last August. But Mr Stirling says the laws dealing with forensic data in
New South Wales prohibit that state's police exchanging information with
Territory police. He says the law is a relevant factor in the case of the
man on remand for murder in Sydney, who has been linked to the disappearance
of British tourist Peter Falconio. Mr Stirling says an agreement between
the Territory and New South Wales that will enable the exchange of forensic
data will be in place within two to three days. He says the anomaly seems
to concern DNA gained without permission and the suspect in Sydney did
not voluntarily surrender a DNA sample. "There's nothing the Northern Territory
can do," he said. "It's a question at the New South Wales end of them complying
with the legislation that they have in place in order to be able to check
and match and double-check this DNA sample from the Territory against the
sample. This is particularly the case where the sample has been gained
on a non-voluntary basis, which I understand it has." Source:
ABC
News Online
Missing fishermen,
Torres Strait:
Thursday Island
Water Police are expected to this morning commence a search of waters around
Mount Ernst Island in the Torres Strait for two missing fishermen. The
men left Thursday Island on Wednesday morning to fish near Yam and Tu Du
islands but failed to return that afternoon as expected. They have not
been sighted or heard from since. The search area is approximately 25 nautical
miles north east of Thursday Island. Source:
Qld
Police Media Release
Fishermen
Found
Two fishermen
who had not been seen since Wednesday when they set off from Thursday Island
to fish in the Torres Strait have been located. The men were found safe
and well about 10.20am today on Yam Island where they had camped to avoid
inclement weather conditions. Source:
Qld
Police Media Release
Stuttle murder
investigators release new comfit
New information
has come to light that a man was seen walking from the northern end of
the old Burnett bridge moments after British backpacker Caroline Stuttle
was murdered.
Bundaberg
police have released a comfit of the man who is described as being Caucasian,
in his mid 20s, 178cm tall, average build, with blond to sandy hair. He
was wearing knee length shorts similar to board shorts and a creamy coloured
shirt, possibly an open shirt over the top of a t-shirt.
The description
varies significantly from that provided of a man seen following Caroline
over the bridge and police believe that it may be another person. Source:
QLD
Police Media Release
24
June
Missing man,
Murrumba Downs
7am -Police
are searching for an 84-year-old man who went missing from the Invipine
RSL War Veterans Home on Ogg Road, Murrumba Downs overnight. The man suffers
from a medical condition and was last seen at 7.30pm. He is described as
Caucasian, 180cm, slim build, receding brown hair, fair complexion, and
was dressed in navy blue and white striped pyjamas and using a walking
stick.
Missing Murrumba
Downs Man Found
8am - Police
have located the missing 84-year-old from Murrumba Downs. He is safe and
well. He was located nearby. Police wish to thank media for their assistance
in this matter.
Source: Qld
Police Media Releases
26
June
Coronial inquest
recommends charges be laid against Bruce Burrell for the murder of Kerry
Whelan and Dorothy Davis.
Source: The
Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday June 26.
Woman Identified
By Police
Police investigating
the death of a woman on the Central Coast earlier this week have identified
her as a San Remo resident. About 11am on Monday, 24 June, the body of
a woman aged in her late 40s was discovered by a passerby in bushland off
Goorama Avenue, near the intersection of the Pacific Highway. Strike Force
Winsen, comprising officers from Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command and
assisted by Crime Agencies’ Homicide and Serial Violent Crime unit, was
established to investigate the woman’s death. Detective Senior Constable
Paul Laska, from Tuggerah Lakes LAC, said the woman has been identified,
however relatives are still to be informed.
“Until we
have spoken to the woman’s family, no details regarding her identity can
be released,” Detective Senior Constable Laska said. “Meanwhile, the results
of the post mortem, conducted at the Gosford Morgue, have revealed the
woman died as a result of extensive head injuries caused by blunt force
trauma,” he said. Investigators are interviewing a number of witnesses
and are appealing for anyone who might have seen unusual activity in Goorama
Avenue late Sunday night or early Monday morning to contact Tuggerah Lakes
Police on (02) 4353 9299 or Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000.
Source: NSW
Police Media Release
27
June - Police Appeal For Help Locating Missing Green Point Woman
Police and
family are appealing for help locating a 35-year-old mother of two from
the Central Coast who has not been seen or heard from since Tuesday morning.
Kylie
Forrest McKay last contacted her husband via text message about
9.45am on Tuesday, advising she would collect their children from primary
school and playschool later that day. However, the Green Point resident
failed to meet the two children, and has not been seen or heard from since.
Her disappearance was reported to Terrigal Police shortly after 5pm on
Tuesday. Extensive searches of the area have been conducted by police and
Mrs McKay’s family, while State Emergency Services volunteers searched
the Kinkumba Mountain Reserve yesterday afternoon. Mrs McKay is described
as being of white/European appearance, about 160cm tall, with a solid build
and shoulder-length blonde-brown hair. She was last seen wearing a dark
blue hooded knee-length jacket, light blue jumper, blue jeans and blue
joggers.
There are
grave concerns for Mrs McKay’s welfare as she did not take her money, mobile
phone or car with her. Her disappearance has been described to police as
out-of-character. Police are investigating the possibility Mrs McKay might
have been heading towards Yass or Canberra and are appealing for anyone
who might have seen or heard from her to contact Brisbane Water Police
on (02) 4323 5599 or Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000. A photo of Kylie
McKay is available by contacting the NSW Police Media Unit on (02) 9265
4200. Source: NSW
Police Media Release
27-30
June - Woomera Escapees
Thirty-five
people, from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq broke out of the centre after protesters
used cars to demolish a perimeter fence. Immigration officials say all
those who escaped have had applications for asylum rejected and were being
held pending the outcome of appeals.
Four
Woomera escapees captured - News Interactive Australia - 28 Jun
5
found, 29 on run from Woomera - News Interactive Australia -
28 Jun
Australian
police catch 12 more illegal immigrants - The Star, Malaysia - 29 Jun
Dozen
asylum seekers still on the run in Australia AFP - Jun 29
Australian
police capture more outback escapees Reuters - Jun 29
Australian
Cops Catch 14 Immigrants (AP) - Jun 30
Australian
police hunt for asylum escapees in desert Reuters - Jun 30
Escapee
manhunt - News Interactive Australia - 30 Jun
Ten
asylum seekers still on the run - News Interactive Australia - 30 Jun
Sources: As
noted.
28 June -
Senior naval officer to consider missing sailor findings
Senior naval
officer to consider missing sailor findings
Source: ABC
News
International
News:
23 June -
India: 15 feared drowned in boat mishap
Bihar: 15
feared drowned in boat mishap. Five bodies recovered and divers were pressed
into service to locate missing persons. Source:
The
Hindu, India
25-30 June:
USA Elizabeth Smart Case
Handyman
denies role in abduction of Elizabeth Smart
FBI
takes knife, hat from home in search for Utah girl
Police
seek public's help for information on Utah handyman
Police
find handyman 'very interesting' in case of missing Utah teen
26 June: USA
There's nothing like having a couple of major news stories break in your
city to focus your attention on the tactics and ethics of the press, the
police, the law, the victims and the various other parties. Especially
when your own newspaper becomes part of the story. Opinions: JOHN HUGHES:
Making news. Source:
The
Nando Times
28 June -
Africa: The Fate of the 60 Missing Blind
The Fate of
the 60 Missing Blind. Source:
All
Africa
27 June -
40 washed away in Thane
Eleven persons
were still reported missing, police said. Source:
Hindustan
Times
29 June -
USA: Young woman's death sparked controversy
Young
woman's death sparked controversy - Baltimore Sun.
The body was
first thought to be that of Elizabeth Wardwell, the daughter of a prominent
upstate New York banker who had turned up on the missing persons list.
Or it might have been Catherine Hill, 26, of Provincetown, Mass., also
on the list.
|
