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Australia backpacker stabbing: Suspect 'may have been obsessed' with Mia Ayliffe-Chung Australia backpacker murder: Man charged over Mia Ayliffe-Chung death
(35 minutes later)
The alleged killer of a British backpacker in Australia may have been obsessed with her and had taken drugs before the attack, police have said. A man has been charged with the murder of British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung at a hostel in Australia.
Queensland Police Service named the suspected murderer as 29-year-old Frenchman Smail Ayad. Queensland Police Service earlier named the suspected murderer as 29-year-old Frenchman Smail Ayad.
Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire died after being stabbed at a hostel in Home Hill, near Townsville, on Tuesday night local time. He is also charged with two counts of attempted murder, 12 counts of serious assault and one count of serious animal cruelty.
Police confirmed an unrequited romantic interest in her was a line of inquiry. Miss Ayliffe-Chung died after being stabbed in Home Hill, near Townsville, on Tuesday night local time.
Supt Ray Rohweder, regional crime co-ordinator from the Northern Region, said the possibility Mr Ayad had an "obsession" with Miss Ayliffe-Chung was being considered as a possible motive. The 21-year-old received multiple stab wounds, police said, and a post-mortem examination was due to be conducted on Thursday at 12:30 local time.
Numerous witness statements have been taken but detectives are still "far" from reaching positive conclusions, he said.
Asked if Mr Ayad had a romantic interest in Miss Ayliffe-Chung, he said: "That's one of the lines of inquiry that we are conducting. There is at this stage no indication, certainly from Mia's point of view, that there was any sort of romantic connection.
"We have had some indication that he may have consumed some cannabis that evening but insofar as anything harder or alcohol there is no evidence to suggest that occurred."
He also said that, although nothing was being ruled out, there was "absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any political motive in relation to this matter".
It has been reported that shouts of "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is greatest" - were heard during and after the attack.
Miss Ayliffe-Chung received multiple stab wounds, police said, and a post-mortem examination was due to be conducted on Thursday at 12:30 local time.
'Sick to the stomach''Sick to the stomach'
Mr Rohweder also confirmed a 30-year-old British man, Tom Jackson, who was critically injured in the attack, had tried to save Miss Ayliffe-Chung after she was stabbed at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill. Earlier, Supt Ray Rohweder, regional crime co-ordinator from the Northern Region, confirmed a 30-year-old British man, Tom Jackson, who was critically injured in the attack, had tried to save Miss Ayliffe-Chung after she was stabbed at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill.
Of Mr Jackson's intervention, he said: "His subsequent actions were absolutely fantastic. I have no doubt that his actions on that day, as completely selfless as they were, led to the injuries he now has." Mr Jackson remains in hospital with critical head injuries.
Of his intervention, Mr Rohweder said: "His subsequent actions were absolutely fantastic. I have no doubt that his actions on that day, as completely selfless as they were, led to the injuries he now has."
Confirming there was CCTV footage of the incident, he added: "There's no-one that can view that CCTV that doesn't come away feeling sick to the stomach. It's absolutely horrific."Confirming there was CCTV footage of the incident, he added: "There's no-one that can view that CCTV that doesn't come away feeling sick to the stomach. It's absolutely horrific."
Mr Ayad, who has had a psychiatric assessment and undergone forensic analysis, stopped co-operating with police on Wednesday night after being initially co-operative and was Tasered and pepper sprayed by officers.
The superintendent said: "When we transported the suspect from the Townsville hospital to the Townsville police station, the suspect behaved in an extremely violent manner which necessitated police stopping the motor vehicle and attempting to restrain him.
"As a result of that police received some injuries, including just cuts and aberrations but also a bite to the leg."
The suspect was on a second visit to Australia and had arrived in the country for the second time in March.The suspect was on a second visit to Australia and had arrived in the country for the second time in March.
Mr Rohweder said he understood Mr Ayad had been in Home Hill for about a month while Miss Ayliffe-Chung had been there only a couple days.Mr Rohweder said he understood Mr Ayad had been in Home Hill for about a month while Miss Ayliffe-Chung had been there only a couple days.
After the attack, he propelled himself over a railing, and landed flat on his back, the officer said.
Forensics teams have returned to the scene and specialists from Brisbane are going to Home Hill to do further testing.Forensics teams have returned to the scene and specialists from Brisbane are going to Home Hill to do further testing.
Another British backpacker was injured and is in hospital being treated for damage to both his ankles.Another British backpacker was injured and is in hospital being treated for damage to both his ankles.
Miss Ayliffe-Chung's family has paid tribute to an "amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit", describing her as "a rare person who saw beyond race, creed and belief". Miss Ayliffe-Chung's family has paid tribute to an "amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit".
The statement, on behalf of Mia's mother Rosie Ayliffe, was read out by her partner Stewart Cormack.The statement, on behalf of Mia's mother Rosie Ayliffe, was read out by her partner Stewart Cormack.
He said: "Mia was full of the kind of open-minded compassion for life that you don't see that often. It felt as though she was reminding us all of the beauty and possibilities we each have that we should live life to the full.He said: "Mia was full of the kind of open-minded compassion for life that you don't see that often. It felt as though she was reminding us all of the beauty and possibilities we each have that we should live life to the full.
"Mia was a rare person who saw beyond race, creed and belief. She would always treat others with dignity, respect and kindness."Mia was a rare person who saw beyond race, creed and belief. She would always treat others with dignity, respect and kindness.
"As a peaceful person Mia had huge respect for everybody. She would not want to be the reason for any hostilities caused by any misrepresentations of the events.""As a peaceful person Mia had huge respect for everybody. She would not want to be the reason for any hostilities caused by any misrepresentations of the events."
Miss Ayliffe-Chung had lived in Surfers Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast, and worked as a waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar before making an 800-mile trip north to work with animals on a farm.Miss Ayliffe-Chung had lived in Surfers Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast, and worked as a waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar before making an 800-mile trip north to work with animals on a farm.
She was just days into the three-month trip when she was killed.She was just days into the three-month trip when she was killed.
Her last Facebook update was on 20 August, four days after starting work on the farm.Her last Facebook update was on 20 August, four days after starting work on the farm.
Profile: Mia Ayliffe-ChungProfile: Mia Ayliffe-Chung
Miss Ayliffe-Chung went to Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth before going to Chesterfield College to study psychology and communication and culture.Miss Ayliffe-Chung went to Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth before going to Chesterfield College to study psychology and communication and culture.
She later went to Buxton and Leek College to study childcare.She later went to Buxton and Leek College to study childcare.
It is understood she travelled to Bali before arriving in Australia.It is understood she travelled to Bali before arriving in Australia.
Paul Lovatt, head of pastoral care at Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth, remembered her as "enriching the school environment".Paul Lovatt, head of pastoral care at Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth, remembered her as "enriching the school environment".
"We knew Mia as a student with so much joy and energy who was well-liked by her friends and teachers," he said."We knew Mia as a student with so much joy and energy who was well-liked by her friends and teachers," he said.
"She joined our school in Year 9 and flourished here, both in making strong friendships and in achieving high-level GCSEs.""She joined our school in Year 9 and flourished here, both in making strong friendships and in achieving high-level GCSEs."
Rachel McVeigh, curriculum leader for education and childcare at Buxton and Leek College, said: "Mia had a zest for life and was free-spirited, with a keen desire to travel.Rachel McVeigh, curriculum leader for education and childcare at Buxton and Leek College, said: "Mia had a zest for life and was free-spirited, with a keen desire to travel.
"We are devastated and extremely sorry to hear such tragic news. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.""We are devastated and extremely sorry to hear such tragic news. Our thoughts are with her family and friends."