This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/07/woman-beaten-choked-and-raped-in-eight-week-ordeal-in-queensland-say-police
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| British backpacker beaten and raped in eight-week ordeal in outback Australia, police say | British backpacker beaten and raped in eight-week ordeal in outback Australia, police say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A young British tourist allegedly held captive and repeatedly raped, beaten and choked during a two-month road trip through Queensland’s outback has been found during a routine traffic stop. | |
| The 22-year-old was rescued on Sunday afternoon when police pulled over a four-wheel-drive at Mitchell, about 600km west of Brisbane, and found the terrified and injured woman at the wheel. | The 22-year-old was rescued on Sunday afternoon when police pulled over a four-wheel-drive at Mitchell, about 600km west of Brisbane, and found the terrified and injured woman at the wheel. |
| She had facial fractures, bruises and cuts and when officers searched the vehicle, they found her alleged attacker hiding in a storage alcove in the back. | She had facial fractures, bruises and cuts and when officers searched the vehicle, they found her alleged attacker hiding in a storage alcove in the back. |
| The 22-year-old man, from the Cairns suburb of Manunda, has already faced court on more than 20 charges. They include four counts of rape, eight counts of assault, four of strangulation and two of deprivation of liberty. He is also facing drug charges. | The 22-year-old man, from the Cairns suburb of Manunda, has already faced court on more than 20 charges. They include four counts of rape, eight counts of assault, four of strangulation and two of deprivation of liberty. He is also facing drug charges. |
| “We would certainly say that what’s happened to this young lady is quite catastrophic,” Detective Inspector Paul Hart told ABC radio. “There are numerous supports that have been put in place [for the victim].” | “We would certainly say that what’s happened to this young lady is quite catastrophic,” Detective Inspector Paul Hart told ABC radio. “There are numerous supports that have been put in place [for the victim].” |
| Police said the British woman met her alleged attacker in Cairns, and they decided to embark on a road trip that quickly turned into a living nightmare. | Police said the British woman met her alleged attacker in Cairns, and they decided to embark on a road trip that quickly turned into a living nightmare. |
| It’s alleged she was subjected to a series of sustained sexual and other attacks between 2 January and 5 March, on a journey that stretched at least 1360km from Cairns in the far north and south to the outback town of Roma. | It’s alleged she was subjected to a series of sustained sexual and other attacks between 2 January and 5 March, on a journey that stretched at least 1360km from Cairns in the far north and south to the outback town of Roma. |
| Police say the woman was rescued after a routine traffic stop on the Warrego Highway at Mitchell, just west of Roma, about 5pm on Sunday. | Police say the woman was rescued after a routine traffic stop on the Warrego Highway at Mitchell, just west of Roma, about 5pm on Sunday. |
| “It appears she was terrified and not able to hide that [from officers],” police said on Tuesday. | “It appears she was terrified and not able to hide that [from officers],” police said on Tuesday. |
| Investigators were still trying to piece together the pair’s movements, including where they might have stopped. The Cairns man remains in custody after facing a court in Roma on Monday.Comment has been sought from the British High Commission. | Investigators were still trying to piece together the pair’s movements, including where they might have stopped. The Cairns man remains in custody after facing a court in Roma on Monday.Comment has been sought from the British High Commission. |