New information pinpoints Karen Williams burial site at Coober Pedy
POLICE will launch a fresh search for the remains of 16-year-old murder victim Karen Williams on the outskirts of Coober Pedy.
POLICE will launch a fresh search for the remains of 16-year-old murder victim Karen Williams on the outskirts of Coober Pedy.
Major Crime detectives have received new information from several sources that has pinpointed two precise locations about 1km from the town centre that are likely to be where the teenager was dumped after being abducted, bashed and thrown down a mineshaft.
The intended search areas are within 150 metre radius of the junction of Maliotis Boulevard and Flat Hill Road, close to the town and the Stuart Highway.
Police have been told the Opal Inn Hotel could clearly be seen from site on the night Karen was buried 24 years ago.
The new search, which is expected to last for up to four days, follows two unsuccessful searches for her remains last year and earlier this year, including the use of ground penetrating radar and experts from interstate.
Major Crime officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said on Friday that he was “confident’’ the fresh information had narrowed the search area considerably, but the search still required a massive effort to be successful.
“Two critical witnesses have come forward who are now of significant assistance to the investigation,’’ he said.
“A person has also come forward with a series of historical aerial photographs that we were previously unaware of and that has been of considerable assistance in comparing the site between when Karen Williams was abducted, compared with the landscape today.
“And some previously unknown facts have now been identified through further investigation have also proved valuable.’’
Det. Supt. Bray said an independent review of all information relating the burial site had also been conducted to evaluate all information available and that had reinforced the views of the investigators that Karen is buried nearby.
“As a result, we have committed to return to the area and do everything we possibly can to find Karen,’’ he said.
“The search has been described as looking for a needle in a haystack because of its scope, but we now feel we have located the haystack. We know we will be in the right area and close.’’
The new search will use one of the largest bulldozers ever manufactured, a Caterpillar D10, that weighs 82 tonnes that will be used to remove a layer of topsoil to locate disused mineshafts. Once located they will be carefully excavated by SES, mine rescue workers, four Major crime detectives. A forensic response team and anthropologist will be on standby in Adelaide if any remains are located.
In November last year detectives arrested former Coober Pedy man Nikola Novakovich, 42, and charged him with the murder of Karen Williams.
The Supreme Court last month rejected a bid by Novakovich to have the case against him permanently stayed and he will face trial in February.
The court heard Karen Williams was bashed and buried “half alive’’ in a mineshaft because she had stumbled upon three men carrying out an armed robbery.