French tourist stabbed to death in front of wife at Stuart Highway rest stop

UPDATE: THE wife of a man stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack at a remote Stuart Highway rest stop has been released from hospital. A Melbourne man is in custody after being found naked in the bush.

THE wife of a man stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack at a remote Stuart Highway rest stop has been released from hospital.

The French woman was admitted to Alice Springs Hospital on Wednesday night suffering shock after her husband was stabbed in the neck.

She has been taken to a safe house and it is understood she will be interviewed by Northern Territory police Friday afternoon.

Mill Park man Pande Veleski has been arrested over the stabbing murder of the French tourist at an Outback rest stop.

The married couple, who only recently arrived in Australia, had stopped at Connors Well, 90km north of Alice Springs, when police allege 35-year-old Mr Veleski attacked the Frenchman, stabbing him in the neck.

Mr Veleski is under guard in Alice Springs Hospital, having been found naked in the Outback after a police helicopter search.

Mr Veleski’s sister-in-law Mary Veleski said nothing like this had ever happened to her family.

“Our hearts go out to the family,” she said.

“We’re heartbroken, we’re in a lot of hard time at the moment. This has never happened to our family.”

She said her husband Tony Veleski, Mr Veleski’s brother, was “distraught”.

“We don’t know what to do,” she said.

“We knew he was unwell, but we never knew it was to this point. I just feel for everybody.”

News of the horrific attack comes as Joanne Lees, whose boyfriend Peter Falconio was murdered in 2001 less than 200km from Wednesday’s stabbing, visits the area to set up a memorial.

Police sources alleged the attacker pulled up behind the couple who were unaware of the horror to come.

The NT News understands the victim’s wife tried to fight off the alleged attacker by bashing him over the head with a picnic table, before the man fled in his silver Hyundai car, leaving the distraught wife to watch her husband die on the side of the lonesome stretch of highway.

Soon after, a nurse from the Ti Tree Health Clinic and her husband drove past the traumatic scene and stopped, in a desperate bid to save the man’s life. The nurse performed CPR on the injured man as her husband continued on to the Aileron roadhouse to call triple 0.

Police launched a wide-scale manhunt for Veleski, covering scrub and setting up roadblocks to the north and south of Ti Tree.

Pande Veleski has been arrested by police.

Detective Superintendent Travis Wurst said police spotted the accused’s car near Ti Tree, but he fled into the bush on foot.

Witnesses say he was found naked by police after an aerial search early yesterday.

He has been remanded in Alice Springs Hospital and was last night under police guard.

The man is yet to be charged by police.

The victim’s wife, 30, was also in hospital and was said to be completely traumatised by the attack.

“As one would expect she is particularly traumatised by this event,” Supt Wurst said.

“One could only assume this is an absolutely devastating occurrence for her and for her family and of the deceased as well.

“She is currently in Alice Springs Hospital receiving treatment and police will continue to support her. As far as we are aware she was not injured.”

Forensic investigators analyse the scene. Photo: Jeff Tan

The crime scene at the Connor Well roadside stop. Picture: Jeff Tan

The Rav 4 a married couple were travelling in before the husband was stabbed to death. Picture: Jeff Tan

Forensic investigators analyse the scene in Aileron. Photo: Jeff Tan

Police say only the couple and their alleged attacked were present when the death occurred. Photo: Jeff Tan

Supt Wurst said police believed the French tourists were alone at the rest stop in the minutes before the attack.

“We believe at this time the only persons at the roadside stop were the male person, who is now deceased, and his wife. The only other person that was believed to have been present was the person who is considered to be the attacker. We understand there were no other people present.”

Aileron Roadhouse employee BJ Gorman said the man who made the triple 0 call was calm amid the horrific crisis.

Mr Gorman said the caller has alerted authorities and then rushed back to the scene to help his wife.

Yesterday, police continued to scour the rest stop and collect evidence.

The couple’s red Rav 4 with a South Australian numberplate sat to the side of the scene, a soft toy in the front and an air freshener dangling, visible through the open window.

Police want to speak to anyone who was this grey Hyundai i20 hatchback on the Stuart Hwy. Picture: (AAP Image/NT Police)

Police inspect the car Mr Veleski was allegedly driving. Photo: Jeff Tan

A car alleged to be Mr Veleski’s was left abandoned near Ti Tree. Picture: NT Police

Roadtrains passed every five minutes while two police officers kept the scene secure.

Two other investigators slowly cleared items away into big brown paper bags.

As police stood guard a sign which stood above a rubbish bin chillingly read “enjoy your rest”. A big bloodstain was visible near to the fixed picnic table.

Supt Wurst said police were desperate to speak with any motorists who saw the accused’s car on the Stuart Hwy.

“(Police want to speak to) anyone who was on the south Stuart Hwy between Ti Tree and Alice Springs who may have seen a silver Hyundai hatchback with a Victorian registration who may have been acting suspiciously or in any other locations in that highway area.

“That vehicle is the vehicle we are lead to believe the person was driving at the time.

“The vehicle is being examined as a crime scene. I’d also ask anyone who has seen the car in the days leading up to this incident occurring to provide assistance in establishing a time line for the travels of this vehicle.”

Supt Wurst said investigators were still piecing together the exact timeline of how the attack unfolded.

“The details of what transpired at the road side stop are still part of our investigations. All the details of the event are yet to be established.”

He said the French consulate had been made aware of the incident.