Kiwi now thought dead

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 1

Kiwi now thought dead

NZPA London Irish police said yesterday they were now convinced a New Zealand man who disappeared from his home in County Cork was dead. “We are treating the case as a murder investigation,” a spokesman said.

He was speaking 24 hours after an Englishman appeared in court in Bantry, County Cork, charged in connection with the death of Mr Gregor Evans, aged 46, formerly of Ashburton, who disappeared from his home in the village of Dunbittern West, near Bantry, on July 1. Barry Unsworth, aged 30, of Bracknell, Berkshire, was accused of maliciously wounding Mr Evans at Dunbittern West between July 1 and July 4 this year and with falsely imprisoning him.

Unsworth was remanded in custody, without plea, to September 16. Unsworth had been extradited early on Saturday morning from England where he had been held by the police. He was flown to Dublin where his plane was met by local detectives. He was then driven to Bantry for the court appearance.

The police spokesman said they still wished to speak to another man, William Diemling, aged 40, an Austrian, about Mr Evans’ disappearance. Diemling was arrested in Bracknell, Berkshire, a week ago for allegedly being in possession of a firearm. But he made a dramatic escape from his police cell on Tuesday and yesterday was still at large. Two others also arrested in Bracknell in connection with the case have now been released.

The spokesman said the police were still looking for Mr Evans although the chances of finding him alive were now remote.

' Mr Evans, single, left New Zealand to live in Ireland about 10 years ago. He settled in Dunbittern West where he worked as an antique furniture restorer. He was well known in the community, where he was known as Jack. Police have not revealed a motive for his disappearance but it is believed to stem from a dispute over a property deal.