SYDNEY COUPLE’S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 5

SYDNEY COUPLE’S DEATH

CAR THIEF. THOUGHT KILLER

POLICE GATHER GRIM RELICS

SEARCH FOR THE SUSPECT

GIRL SHOT NEAR HER GRAVE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Rec. 7 p.m.

Sydney, April 13.

The battered body of Dorothy Denzel, aged 21, was lifted from its shallow grave in the bush three miles from Liverpool to-day. The police had kept vigil overnight, their object being to allow experts to obtain by daylight all available evidence likely to afford clues to the murderer.

It was quickly evident that the girl had met the same terrible fate, as her male companion, Frank Wilkinson, aged 26, with whom she went for a motor ride yesterday week, and whose body was found on Monday two miles from hers. The girl’s features were practically obliterated; she had been shot at close range with a shot-gun. The body was practically naked except for a woollen pullover, and a piece of dress was drawn tightly round her neck. The remainder of her clothing is missing. As in the case of Wilkinson Miss Denzel’s hands were tied behind her back with strips of rug.

The police are of opinion that the girl was brutally murdered within ten feet of her grave, blood stains indicating the position where she fell. Owing to heavy rain since the crime was committed all footprints have been obliterated. One of the girl’s shoes was found in the grave and one of her stockings on the way leading to the grave. Twenty feet from the spot police found pellets of shot and portions of a human skull. These and other grim relics have been gathered by the police to assist in tracing the murderer.

The motive for the crime is a complete mystery. The only theory is that the person or persons responsible wanted to steal the car (which is a sporting Alvis), that Wilkinson put up a fight, was rendered unconscious and killed, and that the girl was gagged, outraged and finally killed in order to escape all possibility of identification. The community is thoroughly stirred, many citizens declaring that the murderer deserves lynching. The detectives possess the most valuable evidence, not the least important being the discovery of a shot gun which was found in a Burwood home, the owner of which is now being sought. The detectives are as certain of the identity of the murderer as they are that the young couple has been slain. The hills surrounding the Anzac rifle range in the Liverpool district are being searched diligently in the hope that the slayer is hiding.

Wilkinson’s funeral to-day was most impressive, thousands gathering to witness it. Miss Denzel’s body will be interred to-morrow alongside Wilkinson’s, under an arrangement with the parents. Medical evidence reveals that Miss Denzel had not been violated.

The police have circulated a minute description of the wanted man.