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| Murder of Bali policeman: Australian woman formally named as suspect | Murder of Bali policeman: Australian woman formally named as suspect |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An Australian woman has been named a suspect in the murder of an Indonesian policeman on the resort island of Bali, her lawyer said Saturday. | An Australian woman has been named a suspect in the murder of an Indonesian policeman on the resort island of Bali, her lawyer said Saturday. |
| Sara Connor from Byron Bay and her British boyfriend David James Taylor were arrested Friday over the murder of traffic police officer Wayan Sudarsa. | |
| Sudarsa’s body was found with wounds to the head and neck early Wednesday on Kuta beach, a popular tourist hangout in the south of the island. | Sudarsa’s body was found with wounds to the head and neck early Wednesday on Kuta beach, a popular tourist hangout in the south of the island. |
| Police naming Connor as a suspect is a formal step in the Indonesian legal system which means detectives have enough evidence to consider filing charges. | Police naming Connor as a suspect is a formal step in the Indonesian legal system which means detectives have enough evidence to consider filing charges. |
| “Her status is now as a suspect. They presume it was murder,” Connor’s lawyer Erwin Siregar told reporters in Denpasar. | “Her status is now as a suspect. They presume it was murder,” Connor’s lawyer Erwin Siregar told reporters in Denpasar. |
| “The maximum sentence for that is 15 years,” he said, adding she could also face lesser charges related to the murder. | “The maximum sentence for that is 15 years,” he said, adding she could also face lesser charges related to the murder. |
| Authorities launched a hunt for Connor and Taylor after Connor’s ATM card and driver’s licence were allegedly found at the crime scene. | Authorities launched a hunt for Connor and Taylor after Connor’s ATM card and driver’s licence were allegedly found at the crime scene. |
| Police also found a smashed beer bottle and damaged surfboard at the scene. | Police also found a smashed beer bottle and damaged surfboard at the scene. |
| Siregar said the pair had drunk beer before going to the beach around 11pm, where there was “kissing”. No drugs were involved, he added. | Siregar said the pair had drunk beer before going to the beach around 11pm, where there was “kissing”. No drugs were involved, he added. |
| Siregar said Connor was “sad” and police postponed the interrogation Saturday after she complained of being tired. | Siregar said Connor was “sad” and police postponed the interrogation Saturday after she complained of being tired. |
| “That’s why we stopped the investigation today, otherwise we will be here until midnight,” he said. | “That’s why we stopped the investigation today, otherwise we will be here until midnight,” he said. |
| The Denpasar police chief, Hadi Purnomo, has told the ABC there are some discrepancies in statements the pair have given. | |
| He said both had admitted being at the crime scene and witnesses had told police “they were wrestling”. | |
| Police want to find the clothes Connor and Taylor were wearing on the morning the officer died, and also want to speak to a taxi driver. | |
| The accused pair have returned to the beach with police to describe what happened on the night the officer died. | |
| They’ve also been subjected to forensic examinations, and Connor has been to hospital for an examination of leg wounds she said she suffered on the night of the death. | |
| On Sunday the family of Connor issued a statement in her defence, saying the 45-year-old is a good mother who loves her two boys, nine and 11. | On Sunday the family of Connor issued a statement in her defence, saying the 45-year-old is a good mother who loves her two boys, nine and 11. |
| “The accusations laid against her are totally out of character for this beautiful person. Her love for her boys is the biggest love in her life. She is very passionate about life and exudes enthusiasm wherever she goes,” Connor’s Byron Bay family said. | “The accusations laid against her are totally out of character for this beautiful person. Her love for her boys is the biggest love in her life. She is very passionate about life and exudes enthusiasm wherever she goes,” Connor’s Byron Bay family said. |
| Bali, a pocket of Hinduism in Muslim-majority Indonesia, is a popular tourist destination known for its tropical climate and palm-fringed beaches. | Bali, a pocket of Hinduism in Muslim-majority Indonesia, is a popular tourist destination known for its tropical climate and palm-fringed beaches. |
| Agence France-Presse and Australian Associated Press contributed to this report | Agence France-Presse and Australian Associated Press contributed to this report |