Friday, May 12, 2017

Perth man strangled in Bali villa: police

A Perth man whose bloodied body was found in a Bali villa is now believed to have been strangled to death by someone close to him, police say.

Stephen Richardson, 63, was found lying naked on his bed in his rented villa at the popular beachside town of Sanur by his friend on Monday afternoon.

Initially police believed he may have died as a result of an accident while intoxicated, but Head of Denpasar District Police Colonel Hadi Purnomo said the autopsy revealed the cause of death to be strangulation.

“There has been an assault that has caused the victim’s death,” he told AAP on Friday.

“There’s also stabbing, blunt object (trauma) too.

“(But) the main (cause of death) is strangulation, which caused the victim to run out of breath and die.”

Mr Richardson’s partner Karen East arrived in Bali on Wednesday and gave permission for the autopsy to be carried out.

Police say they are continuing an investigation into his death but have so far been unable to find CCTV that may lead to a suspect.

They believe the killing was carried out by a single perpetrator.

“The questioning of witnesses also hasn’t led to suspect,” Col Purnomo said.

However, they do believe Mr Richardson died at the hands of someone who was close to him.

“If they didn’t know the victim, he or she couldn’t get into the house.”

There has also been no sign of robbery, with Mr Richardson’s passport, phone, money and jewellery left untouched at the villa.

Mr Richardson is believed to have moved to Bali around three months ago and was living alone at the villa.

Friends had seen him on Saturday night drinking at a local bar.

Fearing for his safety, friend Garry Crocker scaled his fence on Monday afternoon after being unable to contact him for a number of days.

He saw his lifeless body lying in the villa and noticed blood spatters around the property.

Source: Perth man strangled in Bali villa: police | Perth Now


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