Shooting link to Leisl Smith disappearance a year ago
A SHOOTING at Wallarah has been linked to the disappearance and suspected murder of local woman Leisl Smith 12 months ago.
A SHOOTING at Wallarah has been linked to the disappearance and suspected murder of local woman Leisl Smith 12 months ago.
A man, 43, was shot in the stomach on Tuesday night at his rural property which had previously been searched as part of the investigation into Ms Smith's disappearance.
A Wallarah man the same age had been previously identified as a ``person of interest'' by detectives investigating the case.
The wounded man was taken to Wyong Hospital for treatment after the shooting. His injuries were described as minor and he was discharged from hospital yesterday.
A crime scene has been established at the Wallarah property and police divers today were searching a dam there.
Other forensic officers were on the scene.
This week marks exactly a year since Ms Smith, also of Wallarah, vanished. She was last seen on CCTV footage getting into a white ute at Tuggerah Railway Station carpark about 2pm on August 19 last year.
Despite an extensive investigation by detectives from Strike Force Wehl involving numerous property searches she has not been seen since.
Police have been treating the case as homicide and have previously said a Wallarah man, 43, was believed to be the last person to see her.
Earlier this week Ms Smith's mother Sandi Harvey, marking 12 months since her daughter vanished, appealed for help to solve the case.
She said she had cried ``one million tears'' since her daughter disappeared.
``After 12 months the hardest thing is not knowing where she is,'' Ms Harvey said.
She appealed for the public to help saying it only took ``one person to come forward'' to solve the case.
Anyone with information about the shooting or the disappearance is urged to contact Wyong Police Station on 4356 6099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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