Accused Bali police killers Sara Connor and David Taylor face further questioning

AUSTRALIAN woman Sara Connor has been further interrogated about the murder of a Bali police officer and her knowledge of the dead cop’s mobile phone.

AUSTRALIAN woman Sara Connor has been further interrogated about the murder of a Bali police officer and about her knowledge of the dead officer’s mobile phone.

The Byron Bay mum faced an hour of police questioning today, focussing mainly on the disposal of the mobile phone belonging to murdered officer Wayan Sudarsa.

Sara Connor pictured at Denpasar Police Station before being interviewd by police. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

The phone was found destroyed near the place where Connor and her co-accused, British boyfriend David Taylor, burned the clothes they were wearing on the night the officer died.

It comes as lawyers for Connor have requested that she be moved as soon as possible into the main police holding cells in a bid to allow her more exercise and interaction with other prisoners.

After the new round of questions today, Connor’s lawyer Robert Khuana said she had told the police she never saw the dead police officer’s mobile phone.

He said that Connor told police she was told by Taylor he had thrown away the phone when they burned their clothes.

“Sara said that she never (saw) the mobile phone,” Mr Khuana said.

Sara Connor pictured in a holding cell at Denpasar Police Station. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Taylor is also expected to be further interrogated later today about the same thing.

Police say they are confident of handing the brief of evidence, known as the dossier, back to prosecutors on Monday.

Denpasar Police general crime section chief, Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan, said today’s questioning was not substantial.

“We are investigating further about how the evidence (mobile phone) was destroyed,” Mr Nainggolan said.

“There is no extraordinary thing to be found. We don’t have to find new evidence. The prosecutor has agreed with us and we were only asked to complete a few things,” he said.

Mr Nainggolan said he was confident the brief of evidence was now 90 per cent complete.

Connor, 45, and Taylor, 34, have been detained since August 19 and named as suspects in the bashing murder of a police officer whose battered and bloody body was found on a Kuta beach.

Sara Connor still awaits to learn her fate in Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Connor’s lawyer Erwin Siregar said today that the Byron Bay mum wants to move to a different police holding cell in a bid to exercise and communicate with other prisoners.

Since her arrest Connor has been held in a solitary holding cell in the upstairs section of the Denpasar police station.

Lawyer Erwin Siregar said he had requested that police move Connor to the main holding cells downstairs, where all other prisoners are held, including David Taylor.

“We have already requested to the police, if there is a possibility of moving from upstairs to downstairs because, as we know, if somebody in one room without communication to other people this will … make somebody … stress in this case,” Mr Siregar said.

“I really do hope that the police can move Sara as soon as possible from upstairs to the downstairs . She want to move as soon as possible … and I hope the police will do that,” he said.

Briton David Taylor.

Byron Bay mother of two Sara Connor.

Bali police murder investigation

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Prosecutors earlier in the week returned a brief of evidence against Connor and Taylor back to police, seeking further questioning of the couple and clarifications.

Connor denies any role in killing the police officer and says that she tried to separate Taylor and the officer, who were fighting on the beach that night after an argument broke out about Connor’s lost handbag. Taylor had allegedly accused the officer of stealing the bag and of being a fake police officer. Connor has told police she was trying to protect the officer not harm him.

And Taylor has since changed his statement, saying he can’t remember if Connor told him she hit the police officer that night. Taylor is also due to be interrogated later today.

Police allege that the police officer was repeatedly bashed to death, hit about the head with a broken beer bottle, the officer’s own binoculars and a mobile phone. He had suffered 17 head wounds and 42 wounds to his body altogether.

David Taylor is escorted from his cell at Denpasar Police Station. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro.

His body was found on a Kuta beach about 3.30am on August 17. Connor and Taylor were detained as suspects on August 19 and have remained in custody since then. There is no provision for bail.

Under Indonesian law, the prosecutors decide what charges they will face and bring the case to court. After receiving a copy of the massive brief of evidence the prosecutors then returned it to police with guidance on judicial and material requirements required before it is complete and ready for court.

Before yesterday’s new interrogations Connor was greeted warmly by two female friends who arrived to visit.

A trial in the Denpasar District Court could begin by early November.