Backpacker killer guilty

A drug addict was today found guilty of murdering British backpacker Caroline Stuttle in Australia.

Ian Previte, 32, threw her to her death from a bridge over the Burnett River in Bundaberg because she had refused to let go of her handbag.

A jury took seven hours to convict him today. The drifter will be sentenced later. Moments before the attack Miss Stuttle had spent 50 minutes talking to her boyfriend in Britain in April 2002.

She was on her way back to her caravan park when Previte, desperate for money for his next fix, decided to mug her. Miss Stuttle died from head and spine injuries. She had been in Bundaberg for only a few days working as a tomato picker.

Her boyfriend Ian Nelson, who travelled to Australia to give evidence, wept as he left the courtroom. "I never knew I had so many tears in me," he said. "You think you couldn't possibly cry any more and then you do. I spine injuries. She had been in Bundaberg, Queensland, for only a few days working as a tomato picker with her friend Sarah Holiday.

Moments before the attack Miss Stuttle had spent 50 minutes talking to her boyfriend in Britain.

She was on her way back to her caravan park when Previte, desperate for money for his next fix, decided to mug her.

Prosecutor Peter Feeney said she realised she was being followed because she called her friend on her mobile and asked in a hurried voice: "Come and meet me."

Previte had spotted her from beneath the bridge and followed her. "He threw her over the bridge because he wanted to kill her," said Mr Feeney.

Her screams of terror were heard by several people at the caravan park.

Miss Holiday and another friend drove around looking for her before calling the police, who discovered her body underneath the bridge.

Previte confessed three times to the murder.

Once, in a bugged conversation with a fellow prison inmate, he was asked what he would do if he was arrested for murder.

He replied: "Life, that's what I'm going to use, that it was a f****** accident. It'll drop down to manslaughter."

Police then videotaped an interview in which he allegedly said: "I was underneath the bridge, saw her crossing and I wanted to do a snatch. She gave up a fight, she went over. That's it pretty much."

The third alleged confession was on a picnic table near a hostel Previte was staying in, on which he wrote: "I threw that girl off the bridge. I am sorry."

Despite the recordings Previte denied murder and robbery during the three-week trial. Miss Stuttle's boyfriend Ian Nelson, who travelled to Australia to give evidence, wept as he left the courtroom. "I never knew I had so many tears in me," he said.

"You think you couldn't possibly cry any more and then you do. I thought I had my life sorted.

"Caroline and I were going to live together in Manchester. I'm sure we would have ended up getting married and having kids."

Her father Alan Stuttle came out of court after hearing the verdict and said: "It is a great relief for all the family. I think it is important now to draw a line under this awful situation.

"Police in Australia have been absolutely superb, so have the police in England and the British Consulate.

"I want to thank the press for all their support but most of all I want to thank my family. We are so relieved that this matter has finally been put to sleep.

"We can now move forward with confidence and I think it is important we all know this isn't hanging over us.

"It has been two and a half years of a great deal of pain and anguish.

"Now we can get on with the rest of our lives. I am very proud of my daughter.

"She was doing what she wanted, having a holiday of a lifetime in a wonderful country like Australia.

"I am also proud of my wonderful son who has done so much for the family throughout this awful time.

"It has been the people of Bundaberg who have given us the strength to go on. It has not been easy."

Her brother Richard, 27, collapsed into his seat as the verdict was announced.

He immediately left the court to make phone calls to the rest of the family at home. But he was too emotional to give a statement to the Press. He only said "Its over."