Police use hypnosis

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 6

Police use hypnosis

NZPA Melbourne A man who claims to have vital information about the Mount Isa triple murder in 1978 was questioned yesterday under hypnosis by Melbourne detectives. Detective Sergeant Frank Swindells, of the Brisbane homicide squad, said the man, aged 28. had approached the police, who believed he might have vita! information. He said the witness claimed to know the identity of the person who shot three people near Mount Isa in October, 1978. The victims, Karen Edwards, aged 23, of Dandenong, near Melbourne, and Timothy James Thompson, aged 31. and Gordon Stewart Twaddle, aged 21, both of New Zealand, were found in a creek bed beside the highway leading out of Mount Isa. They had all been shot in the head at close range with! a .22 rifle. Brisbane homicide squad detectives established that the trio left Alice Springs early in October for a motorcycle holiday in Queensland. : Detectives have not been able to establish a motive for the murders. Detective Sergeant Swindells said yesterday the man was ■ interviewed in Melbourne by homicide squad detectives and a highly qualified medical officer. He • said the witness claimed to be a friend of the two murdered men. “The witness claims he met a man in Alice Springs who may be connected in some way with the triple murder." Detective Sergeant Swindells said.