Craig Rumsby murder trial: Police recount the moment they found Michelle Bright’s body
Police who investigated the disappearance and murder of central west girl Michelle Bright have recounted the moment officers found her body. Read the witness’s evidence here.
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Police who managed the disappearance and murder of central west teenager Michelle Bright in 1999 have recounted the moment officers found her body.
Dubbo crime scene senior sergeant Neil Pearce told the supreme court trial the teen girl’s body was found lying face down with a black top pulled over her back, while her trousers and underwear ripped down to her ankles.
The trial for Craig Henry Rumsby, 56, continues after police allege in court he confessed to the crimes to undercover police.
Crown prosecutor Lee Carr alleges Rumsby murdered Ms Bright and attempted to choke and rape an 18-year-old girl in 1999 and 1998.
Mr Pearce confirmed detective senior constable Brian Keogh’s statements of finding the teenager’s deceased body on Barneys Reef Rd in Gulgong.
Mr Pearce said Mr Keogh spotted no “obvious external injuries” like “gunshot wounds”, responding to Mr Carr’s questioning.
According to Mr Pearce, Mr Keogh noticed a “darker area on her skin above the torso” and stains on her underwear.
Mr Pearce’s evidence stated a “presumptive test” for semen was conducted on the stain which returned a negative result, indicating that the stain was not semen.
The jury heard the witness confirm an officer’s findings of “some vomit” located near her body in the grass.
The court deliberated for hours over whether Michelle had been murdered in the exact location her body was found or whether her body had been dragged by her killer - judging by the flattened grass.
Mr Pearce is “not aware of any botanical report” to indicate whether Michelle’s body had been slightly dragged.
The trial continues before Acting Justice Robert Allan Hulme.
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