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Bali forensics police at the home of Australian man Stephen John Richardson in Sanur, searching for clues. Picture: News Corp Australia
THE murder of an Australian man in Bali remains a mystery with no suspects and few clues, so Bali police are seeking assistance from the Australian Federal Police to help them crack the case.
The bloodied body of Stephen James Richardson, known as “Ape” was discovered in his Sanur home three weeks ago and despite police interviewing 33 witnesses and taking DNA samples from the scene they have no suspects.
Denpasar Police Chief, Hadi Purnomo, told News Corporation yesterday that they had requested AFP assistance to unlock and analyse Mr Richardson’s mobile phone, which they believe may hold a clue to his death.
He said he believed AFP officers would arrive in Bali this week to help.
PHONE COULD BE KEY
Darwin maritime worker Stephen Richardson who was found dead in his Bali home. Source FacebookSource:Supplied
“We cannot open his mobile phone yet. We feel sure that we can get a clue from the mobile phone. We have requested assistance from Australian Federal Police. They will come to Bali to help investigation, including to open the victim’s mobile phone,” Mr Purnomo told News Corporation.
“We have questioned 33 witnesses, and from the evidence we get, there isn’t any suspicious thing that provides a clue to find the perpetrator.
“This is a mystery. and the mystery must be revealed.
“We haven’t got any evidence that can lead us to the perpetrator. We haven’t got anything that left by the perpetrator at the crime scene,” he said.
CLEAN CRIME SCENE
Mr Purnomo said DNA tests on blood found at the crime scene showed it was all Mr Richardson’s blood and none from a second party.
And there were so far no clues as to owns the long strands of hair found in the house.
He said police now planned to conduct a new search of Mr Richardson’s rented home, in a busy Sanur street, in a bid to uncover any clues they have missed.
Mr Purnomo said Mr Richardson had many girlfriends and drank a lot, often to the point of passing out.
BRUTAL MURDER
An autopsy on Mr Richardson’s body revealed that the cause of death was strangulation. He had also suffered wounds from a blunt object and there was blood everywhere in the home.
Bloody footprints were found leading from the bedroom to the bathroom to the living room.
A mirror and the door to a glass cabinet had been smashed.
Police believe Mr Richardson may have known his attacker as nothing was stolen from the home and the gate was locked.