Australian arrested over killing of teenager in the Philippines
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Version 0 of 1. An Australian man has been arrested in the Philippines over the killing of a Filipina teenager he met on the internet after her body was found in a motel room. The body of 17-year-old Alona Alvarez was found by employees at a motel in the southern city of Dipolog, in the Central Visayas region, on 30 January. Police said tourist Ali Ali, 42, confessed to killing the teenager in self-defence, saying his mind went blank. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is understood to be providing consular assistance to an Australian man in connection with the incident. The pair had met in Dipolog for the first time two days before the murder after talking online. Police said Ali flew to the Philippines to meet Alvarez. “Her face was so unrecognisable and horribly disfigured, the mortician had a hard time,” police investigator Ronald Dingas said. “She suffered a very brutal death. It’s too much.” Alvarez had deep head wounds, had lost most of her teeth, and suffered a brain haemorrhage which ultimately led to her death by acute respiratory failure, Dingas said, citing a police autopsy. She was naked, and investigators also found sex toys and marijuana in the room. Motel staff told police the Australian had checked into the room with Alvarez two days earlier, Dingas said. Ali was arrested on Sunday in the city of Dumaguete, 75 kilometres away from Dipolog, Dumaguete police chief Superintendent James Gofoth told AFP. The suspect, his knuckles heavily bruised, told police he attacked Alvarez after the victim bit his penis, Gofoth added. “He said he did it out of self-defence. He said his mind went blank,” Gofoth said. “He was planning to escape to Manila.” Ali was brought back to Dipolog where police filed a murder complaint against him before the local state prosecutor. He faces a 40-year prison term if found guilty. A court appearance has not been scheduled. |