Aussies Feel Betrayed As 'Dead' Girl's Ruse Revealed

The National Post ^ | April 18, 2003 | Adrian Humphreys

[Loyalist]

I can't think of too many teenagers with the brass and self-discipline to keep themselves hidden for five years just a mile-and-a-half from home, even to the point of letting a man go trial for their murder.

Throw the book at her and sue her for everything she's got or will ever have.

[goldstategop]

Even if the man's a dirtbag, one should never be convicted for a crime one didn't commit. I see nothing honorable about the way she and her family have behaved throughout this entire sordid affair.

[is_is]

maybe she was hiding from something more horrible than the deception that she created........

[goldstategop]

Nevertheless its no excuse for what she did. You can't imagine what it feels like to wonder whether a loved one is dead or alive. This is sacrilege and there are no words to describe this situation.

[CommandoFrank]

There must be some angle that would put the blame on GW or the American military......../sarcasm

[mabelkitty]

How about statutory rape and kidnapping for the boyfriend?

She was 14, he was 23?

[Restorer]

14-year old girl?

Can't the "boyfriend" be charged with statutory rape? Or isn't that a crime in Oz?

[is_is]

You can't say it is no excuse....you don't know why she left.....unless you have been sexually abused/beaten by a family member you have NO idea what that is like and you cannot use a healthy adult mind to say what or how a 14 year old reacts. I am not saying that is what happened but i will bet on it.....a 14 yr old does not do this if she comes from a funtional healthy home......therefore unless i am wrong about the circumstances of her home life.....the burden of guilt and fault lie with her parents.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

ROTFL!! I am currently being flamed on another Elizabeth Smart thread for DARING to suspect that she was actually a runaway, and the "kidknapping" was as phony as Ed Smarts crocodile tears.

This story seems to show that teenagers are capable of even stranger things.

[goldstategop]

Their behavior definitely is no excuse. I don't care if you're a victim. There are rules in life to be followed and if one goes off onto the wrong path, sooner or later the consequences of what we've done will come back to recoil on us.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I think we require evidence of death before someone can be charged with murder. Maybe the Down Under is different.

[battlegearboat]

"Forget it Jake. It's Chinatown."

[Loyalist]

I think that in most jurisdictions, it is not necessary to have the corpus delicti in order to charge and convict a person of murder.

Otherwise, bodies could be dumped at sea with impunity.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. The principals in the famous "Billionaire Boys Club" case were tried and convicted of murder even though the deceased's body was never found.

[js1138]

ROTFL!! I am currently being flamed on another Elizabeth Smart thread for DARING to suspect that she was actually a runaway, and the "kidknapping" was as phony as Ed Smarts crocodile tears.

Teenagers do run away from home for stupid reasons, but that does not absolve adult men who lure them.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Hoe in the name of all that's holy did you derive that particular meaning from my post? I'm all for locking these scum up in concrete cells with no windows or doors for life- but then, you didn't ask, did you? You just "assumed" that I was ready to absolve them.

Interesting.

[js1138]

I didn't accuse you of anything or make any assumptions about you or your motives. I simply finished your thought. If you make statements about the child's motives, you need to round off the thought to give a complete picture. Else you will go through life being misunderstood.

[archy]

I think that in most jurisdictions, it is not necessary to have the corpus delicti in order to charge and convict a person of murder.

Otherwise, bodies could be dumped at sea with impunity.

I regret to inform you bodies ARE very often dumped at sea with impunity.

-archy-/-

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

When I am in need of someone to "finish my thought", I'll advertise. And YOU will not be one of the successful job-seekers.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Actually you must have the corpus delicti to charge for a crime. Of course you don't need a dead body.

Note: corpus delicti means "body of the crime" not "dead body." There must be some evidence (body) of a crime or at least the word of a snitch.