Hi Websleuthers. Long time lurker, first time poster
EurekaLemon, would you mind if i could ask some questions? I have been following this case since the start and something that has always bothered me in 'not adding up' is the car, and a couple of details you gave, further sent up red flags per se.
1. By the sounds of it, there are only 2 (possibly 3 but all locked up bar 1) ways to get into the 'paddock' via car, where Stephanie's car was found? One being through the main entrance closer to the residence which was padlocked off, and the other being through the adjoining property? And those 2 adjoining properties left the gates unlocked for each other? And this adjoining property could only be accessed by a rarely used off-road? Would it be your opinion then, that to have dumped the car where it was - He would have had to access the remote road, then access the adjoining property and then utilise the unlocked gates to eventually dump the car where it was found?
Yes, the adjoining properties remain unlocked at all times. I can't remember when they haven't been like this.
The entry from Murrami road is used a lot. Freedom Foods is located on this road so there are many deliveries to and from. The gate of the property and Freedom foods are not very far from each other. I too thinks it's strange that VS drove through 2 large properties and dumped the car. My opinion - he was trying to find a "back way" into town but came to the irrigation channels and fences. There's no way you could drive across the channels.
Stephanies car could not be seen from main road. It could not be seen from the main residence either. If the home was a two storey home, perhaps yes.
2. If that is the case, how common knowledge was it that this particular property could be accessed like this? You mentioned something about fruit pickers or the like, possibly in this area. Was this area recently known to transients?
Common knowledge that the gates remain locked/unlocked. No, not common. For a random person, it's just luck. Both properties are not the type for transients or the like to walk through. If they are there, they are there for an actual job. No one camps there or drives through.
3. On another thread, another local mentioned that where the car was dumped would have actually been quite visible from the main road, especially if one were searching for it. Is this correct? As said before, no, the car would have not been visible from the Griffith-Leeton Road. A tractor or Grape Harvester can be seen if looking for them. It is because they are both considerably taller than the vines. A sedan, no.
4. On foot, approximately how many minutes would it take to walk back into Leeton township/residential, and what would the odds be of being noticed by people driving by? Is it common at all to see people walking into the township from this road?
On foot it is approximately 8km. Add another 1 from the dump site. It takes just over an hour of good sturdy walking to get to the only set of traffic lights in town. Me, following the speed limit, it takes around 6 - 8 minutes to drive from the lights to the property. It is not common for people to walk along this road. Lots of huge trucks and various cars. A hitch hiker or anyone walking along would be noticed.
5. From her car, if someone were to walk back into the township, would it be viable to traverse a fair portion of that distance off-road (non visible from the road)? Through the bush/private properties etc?
Yes, you could walk back through the properties. I just trying to recall if there are any bigger channels. Some of the smaller ones, you could get across but you would get wet - and be noticed. Also, plenty of dogs would be barking.
Thanks, and sorry if i've got info wrong or seem a bit reductive.
*I understand the word was that someone, a potential eyewitness, stated that he saw someone walking into Leeton from that direction on Monday morning (Thursday until it was discovered? and Wednesday evening when VS was arrested and detained). However i wonder how this would hold up as this person passed him in a car and the description included a hat, sunglasses and a jacket (a backpack too i think). Incredibly vague imo.
*Would that property have been the most suitable place to dump a car if you were walking back on foot? I hate to sound grim, but also where the body was found wasn't well concealed either. Either a sloppy opportunistic crime or someone that wanted things found quickly? And if VS wasn't working on Sunday; did he work monday/tuesday/wednesday at the school? I understand he had already been questioned early and can't help but think the police must have had an eye on him before his actual arrest? (such a small town, how many POI's to observe?)
You are right in thinking it was an odd place to dump the car. We all thought WTF??? Really? There? So many empty sheds, large trees, orchards etc..
Small town. Yes, small but Leeton is approximately 6ish thousand residents in town and another 5 thousand in the surrounding properties.
* How can this case be adjourned for another 6 weeks by request of the crown without a single mention as to why?
