Police charge Timothy Hunt with murder as Tony Rowe’s remains found

Police have charged a man with murder after finding human remains believed to be those of Tony Rowe, who was last seen in a Top End pub one year ago. Watch the search video.

Remains believed to be those of missing Darwin man Tony Rowe have been found just days before the one-year anniversary of his disappearance.

Police said they found the remains and “other evidence” on Friday afternoon in an “isolated area south of Darwin”.

On Monday, Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said as a result of the discovery, police had charged 29-year-old Timothy Hunt with murder.

“We can report that on Friday afternoon a crime scene was established south of Darwin during which time an examination of that scene located human remains and other evidence,” Mr White said.

Police have found human remains they believe to be Tony Rowe almost a year on from his disappearance. Picture: NTPFES

“We are of the strong belief that the remains we have found are Tony.

“Clearly some forensic work is still ongoing and to confirm his identity at this stage I can’t do so we’re waiting for positive identification.”

Mr White said police expected to have forensic results “in the next couple of days”.

While he could not provide a more specific location, Mr White said the area where the remains and other evidence was found was “certainly within the area that we had identified as a potential area of his body being located”.

Mr White also did not provide any detail on the other evidence found.

“It’s a fantastic effort by all but certainly a very sad and solemn day in the sense of finding him and providing that closure to his mum and sister,” he said.

Tony Rowe's disappearance has been treated as a homicide since May last year. Picture: NTPFES

“As a result of the finding of this body, the male person already in custody, that 29-year-old male has been further charged with murder.”

Mr Rowe left the Hibiscus Tavern in Leanyer on May 28 last year, where he had been seen drinking with a group of people and was not seen again.

Since then police have been working closely with their interstate counterparts in Queensland and Western Australia to help provide his family, particularly his mother, with a resolution.

NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said police had now charged a 29-year-old man in their custody with murder. Picture: Jason Walls

Police would only say the remains believed to be Tony Rowe were found in an "isolated area south of Darwin". Picture: Supplied

Jazmine Shier, 21, was arrested in Western Australia earlier this month and has been charged with destruction of evidence and making a false declaration.

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Timothy Hunt was extradited from Queensland and was charged with one count of committing a violent act causing death.

Hunt will again appear in the Darwin Local Court on July 12, after police upgraded the charge to murder.

Shier will also appear in court again on the same day.

Mr White said the pair was with Mr Rowe “earlier in the night of his disappearance”.

Originally published as Police charge Timothy Hunt with murder as Tony Rowe’s remains found