Bali: Australian woman Sara Connor sought over police officer death

A NSW woman is at the centre of a grisly murder investigation in Bali after her handbag was found near the battered body of a traffic cop in Kuta.

POLICE in Bali are searching for an Australian woman and her male companion to help them with their investigation after a handbag believed to belong to the woman was found at the scene of a grisly murder of a police office on a Kuta Beach.

The woman’s driver’s licence, from New South Wales and citing a Byron Bay address, and a credit card were found in the bag scattered on the sand at the crime scene.

Forensic police search room three of the Kubu Kauh Beach Inn at Kuta for clues — the room is where the couple stayed. In this room they found blood stains. Picture: Supplied

Police in Bali said the Australian woman, named as Sara Connor and a male, were being sought for questioning as witnesses in the case of the dead policeman but had not been named as suspects.

Bali police have also sent a letter to the Immigration officials, asking them to prevent Australian woman Sara Connor from leaving the country.

Denpasar Police assess the evidence. Picture: Supplied

News Corporation has obtained a copy of the letter, which says that Sara Connor, from Bryon Bay, “is a key witness who was at the location where a murder occurred, causing the victim, Wayan Sudarsa, to die”.

Last night forensic officers were at a hotel in Kuta where the couple was believed to have been staying but checked out on Thursday.

Numerous spots of what appeared to be blood were found inside the room at the Kubu Kauh Beach Inn and evidence was taken away. A motorbike the couple had rented was also examined.

Police posters, showing the pair’s photographs and the NSW drivers licence of Connor, were put up around Kuta late Thursday in a bid to find the couple.

The body of Kuta traffic police man, First Adj. Insp Wayan Sudarsa, 53, was found on the beach in front of the Pullman Hotel in Kuta by hotel security and Balinese traditional guards, known as pecalang, about 3am on Wednesday.

Beer bottles, which police believe were used to kill him, were found nearby along with the Australian woman’s handbag and a broken surfboard.

He was bleeding from the head. His walkie talkie was next to the body and his police cap was about 20 metres form the body. His motorbike was found in the hotel’s car park.

Kuta traffic policeman, First Adj. Insp Wayan Sudarsa, was found dead on a beach in Kuta, Bali. Picture: Supplied

Bali police spokesman, Sr Commr Anak Agung Made Sudana, said on Thursday evening that

the couple was not named as suspects.

“We haven’t named them as suspects. They are being searched for only for questioning. The investigation is still ongoing to uncover the case,” Commr Sudana said.

He said the police needed to find other evidence and witnesses and police were not saying they were related to the murder.

Sara Connor, from NSW, is sought.

He confirmed that blood spots had been uncovered in the couple’s hotel room.

“It’s part of the police investigation to collect as much evidence. They are collecting the facts and analysing it. To name someone as a suspect we need at least two evidence, witnesses and evidence at the crime scene,” he said.

Police sources have told News Corp Australia that a witness has reported seeing four people, foreigners, in the area before the officer was found dead.

The witness said that the time he thought there was no problem and the group was happy and joking.

Police at the hotel where Sara Connor was staying on Kuta Beach. Picture: News Corp Australia

Police said there was no conclusion yet as to what had gone on at the location at Kuta beach and the investigation was ongoing And CCTV from the Pullman Hotel, near the beach murder scene, was being analysed.

The dead officer suffered gaping wounds to his head and many bruises on his body, indicating a savage bashing.

Sanglah hospital Forensic Installation Unit head, Dr Dudut Rustyadi, said that the officer had suffered many open wounds to his head which may have caused his death, between 2cm and 6cm long. He also had many bruises on his body.

“Based on physical examination he suffered severe wounds that may led to his death,” Dudut said, adding that autopsy would be conducted on Friday to find out the cause of the death.

Police check a motorbike at the Kubu Kauh Beach Inn in Kuta. Picture: Supplied

News Corp Australia understands the man was checked into the Kubu Kauh Beach Inn. Forensic Police were at the hotel late Thursday and photographed outside the room, number three. Police claim blood was found on the floor, the towel, bed linen, pillow cover, door and wall.

Staff at the hotel told News Corp Australia that the man was checked into the hotel and the woman had been seen visiting him there.

But the man checked out on Wednesday. Police have since issued an alert to Immigration to have them stopped for questioning should they try to leave the country. It is not known what nationality the man is at this stage.

Photographs of the couple were included on a police poster obtained by News Corp Australia on Thursday and which was later displayed publicly around Kuta.

Police and forensic officers comb the Kubu Kauh Beach Inn at Kuta where Australian woman Sara Connor was seen. Picture: Supplied

Originally published as Bali: Australian woman Sara Connor sought over police officer death