Australia Karen Edwards,Tim Thomson, Gordon Twaddle,shot dead,Spear Creek,2 October 1978

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March 23 2019
'I still feel a numbness': Families' 40-year wait for answers in cold case triple murder
"John Twaddle said they had a passion for motorcycles and had set out on a trip from Alice Springs to Mount Isa on October 2, 1978."
"They were riding a distinctive blue 1977 Suzuki GS750 and a red 1977 BMW 100S with a homemade side car, for their Doberman, Tristie.

Police said the sight of three friends and their dog travelling through the Northern Territory and Mount Isa would have been memorable and have urged anyone who saw them to come forward.

Officers said they are especially interested in a male motorcyclist who befriended the group at Frewena in Northern Territory, and travelled with them to Mount Isa."
"What police know happened to the trio

• October 2 — They leave Alice Springs, stop at Aileron before camping the night at Ti Tree
• October 3 — They make stops including Devils Marbles before meeting a male motorcyclist at Frewena and all camp at Barry Caves
• October 4 — They travel with the man to Mount Isa but he doesn't check in at caravan park. That night the trio are joined by the man in the Landcruiser
• October 5 — The friends are last seen alive leaving with the man in the Toyota Landcruiser. The man later returns alone looking for the dog
• October 6 — The campsite is packed up and the dog is found at the Mount Isa dump
• October 24/25 — The bodies are discovered in bushland at Spear Creek
• November 13 — A local man, 23, is arrested after being found with of Tim Thomson's red BMW motorcycle"

 

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Murder in the long grass – 40 years on from Spear Creak killings
"On the night of October 24 1978, Stan Harris made a grisly discovery in the bush while taking his greyhounds for a stroll.

Mr Harris and his fiance Kirsten Streicher happened upon a decomposing body sprawled against a tree in a dry river bed at Spear Creek, 12km from Mount Isa.

Police arrived the next morning to discover another two bodies slain in the long grass.

They were Karen Edwards (23), Tim Thompson (31) and Gordon Twaddle (21).

All three had been shot in the head at close range by a .22 calibre rifle, and were stripped of identification – with their pockets turned inside out.

They were all clothed, and had been left in the open to decompose."
Gordon and Tim were both New Zealanders who had arrived in Australia less than two years before their murders.

Tim and Gordon had spent the months preceding their deaths, working around Alice Springs, Tim as a teacher in Hermannsburg and Gordon as a cook in Alice.

Tim’s girlfriend Karen had flown up to the Red Centre to meet the pair and embark on an outback motorcycle adventure to Mount Isa and on to the east coast."

"The trio booked into the Moondarra Caravan Park on October 4 and the next morning they were seen leaving the site in a two tone “brown and white station wagon driven by another man”.

Suspect.
"They had left their campsite intact with Karen’s Alsatian tied to a tree. The next day the gear and dog were gone.

Karen, Gordon and Tim were never seen alive again.

Police have never been able to find the car or driver – but believe he was a friend or acquaintance of Tim Thompson.

The man was described by police at the time as bearded, in his 20s with a medium build. A man of similar description had been seen visiting Tim at Hermannsburg.

He remains the prime suspect"

 

[dotr]

March 23 2019 rbbm.
Murder in the long grass: Fresh leads in Australian cold case in murder of Kiwis

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell of the Cold Case Investigation Team said police were confident the renewed focus could lead to a breakthrough in the case.

"Despite 40 years passing, we remain committed to solving this case, bringing those responsible to justice and ultimately providing closure to the victims' families," she said.

"We have reviewed thousands of pieces of information provided to police over the years, however, today we are launching a fresh appeal to encourage new witnesses and those who have already spoken to police to make contact with us."

Edwards was a trainee medical psychologist from Dandenong in Victoria. Twaddle and Thomson were both New Zealanders who had arrived in Australia less than two years before their murders.

The two men had spent the months preceding their deaths, working around Alice Springs, Gordon as a cook and Tim as a teacher in the remote community of Hermannsburg.

As their time in the outback was coming to an end, Thomson's girlfriend Edwards, flew up to the Red Centre to meet the pair and embark on a motorcycle adventure to Mount Isa, and then on to the east coast."

"Police have never been able to find the car or driver – but believe he was a friend or acquaintance of Tim Thompson."
"A man of similar description had been seen visiting Thomson at Hermannsburg, where he had been working as a teacher."
"We are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen a male motorcyclist who befriended the group and joined them on their travels between Frewena and Mount Isa."

 

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March 23 2019
https://www.smh.com.au/national/que...milies-plead-with-killer-20190323-p516ut.html
"A "bearded motorcycle enthusiast" could be the key to solving a 40-year-old Queensland cold case, police say."

Police said they were “particularly interested” in speaking with anyone who may have seen a male motorcyclist who befriended the group at the Outback NT rest stop of Frewena and joined them on the final 500-kilometre stretch into Mount Isa.

 

[Pi Thoughts]

Breaking news....
A man has been arrested and charged over a cold case triple murder at Spear Creek, near Mount Isa in north-west Queensland.

Man charged over cold case Spear Creek murders

 

[dotr]

Great news!
Goulburn man arrested for Qld cold case murders

Bruce Preston being driven into the Brisbane Watchhouse on Friday afternoon. Photo: Lydia Lynch
"A man has been charged with the 1978 Queensland outback murders of Karen Edwards, Timothy Thomson and Gordon Twaddle.

The 63-year-old, whom the Courier Mail reported is former prison officer Bruce John Preston from Goulburn, has been charged with three counts of murder.

Mount Isa detectives confirmed the man flew to Brisbane of his own accord on Friday and was arrested and charged."

"Preston had been a person of interest, charged with stealing Tim's motorcycle in 1978 for which he was convicted and fined $300.

At the time, he was an unemployed diesel mechanic. Later, in Goulburn, he joined Corrective Services and was awarded a commendation for brave conduct by the Commissioner in 2002.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said the families of the victims had been told of the charges and were "relieved" by the outcome.

"We believe that there are still witnesses out there who hold vital information and we appeal for those persons to come forward," she said."

 

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Man accused of Spear Creek murders will fight the charges, lawyer says
"The man charged with a cold case triple murder near Mount Isa in north-west Queensland will fight the charges, his lawyer says.

"Bruce John Preston, from Goulburn in regional New South Wales, had his matter mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning."
"He will be fighting the charges," he said.

"I can't make any further comment."

The matter will return to court on May 20, 2019."

 

[Pi Thoughts]

Former Queensland prison guard Bruce John Preston, charged over the Spear Creek triple murders in 1978, has been denied Supreme Court bail in what was described as a “circumstantial case.”

The court heard Mr Preston’s account of his whereabouts had recently changed.
He initially denied being in the area at the relevant time during a 1978 interview but now admits he could have been there.
Man accused of triple outback murder 40 years ago denied bail

 

[Pi Thoughts]

Evidence against a former prison guard charged over the murder of three friends on an outback motorcycle adventure four decades ago may have been exaggerated, a judge says.

Bruce John Preston, 64, was granted bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday after it was found the investigating officers objecting to Preston's previous bail application may have "overstated" some of the evidence.
Qld triple murder accused granted bail - 9News

 

[dotr]

June 2025

Coroner 'battling' against time to investigate Mt Isa cold case murders

A coroner has been tasked with "finding answers" for the families of three friends who were killed in remote Queensland more than 45 years ago.

www.abc.net.au

''Following a fresh cold case investigation, in 2019, Bruce Preston — who had previously admitted to stealing one of their motorbikes — was arrested over the triple homicide.
However, after being committed to stand trial, the prosecution against him was withdrawn in 2023.''
'A further preliminary conference into the matter will be heard in August.'

 

[dotr]

Quest for answers over cold case murders

A date has been set for a coroner to probe the horrific deaths of three people whose bodies were found dumped in the outback more than 40 years ago.

au.news.yahoo.com

'A date has been set for a coroner to probe the cold case deaths of three people who were gunned down in the Queensland outback, with a court being told an “extensive” brief of evidence would only be ready one month before the hearing.'

'A further date for oral submissions was set down for October 22.'