This is my first post here.
I live in SA but not in the Barossa area and I don't know anyone from the family of their friends, however I have been intrigued by this case from the beginning, and following it closely (including the older threads here that have been closed).
When I heard of the murders, one of the first things I did was to view CR's FB page and look at all her friends walls (those silly enough not to have then set to private) and all the friends of those friends.
I have kept a vigilant eye on the FB posts of friends and friends of friends, and I have seen many comments that were deleted only shortly after being posted, usually when someone said "you shouldn't say that".
I think I have a pretty good idea of the teenage social network in the town at the time of the crimes.
People on this forum have implied that the crime appears solved because of the DNA evidence. They have assumed that the police arrested the alleged murderer based on DNA evidence found in blood.
The police have not said that.
Police immediately said they had DNA of a male, which indicates that DNA was gathered from semen of the person who most recently had sex with CR.
But whay assume that person is the killer?
The police have not said that the trail of blood coming from the house was the blood of the killer.
They only said that they thought the killer may have been injured in the attack.
I think it is more likely that the blood outside was the blood of the family on the shoes of the killer.
Lots of DNA evidence would have been found in the house.
There was a party there the night before and on Friday night.
Many of CRs friends were at both parties.
The alleged killer was at the Saturday one (don't know if he was at the Friday one) and the kids who attended all said nothing unusual happened then.
If blood DNA was found, there are many innocent reasons it could be in the house after 2 parties in 2 days. A simple cut finger, a blood nose, even a home-done piercing.
The other important assumption that people here are making is about CR herself. She was only just 16 (her birthday was in June) and she was photogenic.
I don't feel comfortable writting this, but in the interest of a fuller picture, I think this bit is important.
Look at her photos on myspace {mod edit} link removed
She has a profile pic that she is taking with her own camera, showing the word "hoe" written across her chest.
She calls herself "hoe-bagg" and says this - "More of a guys girl than a girls girl".
(For U.S.A ppl - "hoe" is slang for *advertiser censored* in Australia)
Now, I am not judging her and I do know what teens are like, but I do want to point out that she does not try to present herself as sexually inexperienced.
From many FB discussions, it seems she did not actually have one particular special boyfriend.
Remember it was the mother of the b/f who spoke on TV and said her son was CR's b/f. That comment lead to ppl reading the FB pages and putting 2 and 2 together and deciding who the b/f was.
As for the "I love you" posts on FB, there were many like that from CR to various ppl, male and female friends. It seems to be the way she communicated and should not be taken as evidence of a romatic or special relationship.
CR changed schools 3 time in 3 years.
Again, reading old FB posts, it seems she may have become ostracised from the school social groups by groups of girls.
I think it is important to notice that her relationships and lifestyle were complicated.
Turning to the alleged killer, several things jump out.
First, he wasn't that bright.
His posts shiow that despite wanting a future career in the motor trade, he could not spell "mechanic".
However, despite this problem, he got into TAFE (Techical college) and was apparently a hard worker and well liked by his work-mates.
He seems to have been a quietish, but generally well liked young lad.
He does not seem the sort who could cunningly hide the evidence of a crime and then act as if he knew nothing about it while mourning with his friends.
He did not run away.
He willing gave DNA for testing as soon as he was asked.
He allowed his car and house to be searched.
He was not some sort of wierdo loner.
He, and the person named as the b/f were best mates.
They appear to have shared a very close friendship with CR, as did several others in their social group.
People here have asked, "if he had an alibi, why didn't he mention it earlier".
Well, if he is innocent, maybe he was never asked for an alibi, and maybe he never thought he would need one.
So, here is an alternate idea that I would like to put to you all.
Perhaps he actually is innocent.
Perhaps he did have sex with CR earlier in the evening.
Perhaps he had already told the police this.
Perhaps he has no reason to have withhold any of this information.
A previous poster mentioned that he was driven to the police station by a workmate to sign his statement.
She said he was calm during the drive.
If that is true, maybe it is because he is innocent?