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Daniel Morcombe (Altar boy) 13, murdered
#7
Here is the latest today from
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-15/mo...ea/2839824

Guess what? Not only is he a father of 3 but he attended Christian Outreach Centre on the Sunshine Coast when he was living there. I have a friend who attends that church.

Morcombes to visit search area as suspect held
Updated August 15, 2011 12:38:53

Photo: Bruce Morcombe and Denise Morcombe speak to reporters today (ABC TV)

Video: Morcombe murder accused to fight charges (ABC News)
Related Story: Accused killer to fight Morcombe chargesMap: Maroochydore 4558
Daniel Morcombe's parents say they hope to visit the "muddy jungle" where police are searching for their son's remains within the next couple of days.

A 41-year-old man has appeared in court in Brisbane charged with the murder of the Sunshine Coast teenager, who disappeared while on his way to buy Christmas presents in December 2003.

The man, who cannot be named, is also charged with deprivation of liberty, indecent treatment of a child, and interfering with a corpse.

He was arrested on Saturday as police and SES search teams descended on Beeburrum state forest, near the Glass House Mountains north of Brisbane, in an apparent search for Daniel's body.

This morning Daniel's parents, Bruce and Denise Morcombe, spoke to reporters outside their Maroochydore home.

"With any luck we'll find Daniel and bring him home - and that's what Australia wants," Mr Morcombe said.

He said the family expected to visit the search area in the next couple of days, saying from what he had seen of it on the TV it looked like a "muddy jungle".

"That's something that we want to do - I need to know where Daniel is ... and what sort of area he was taken to," said Daniel's mum Denise.

Suspect to fight charges

Photo: Search for remains: Daniel Morcombe (Supplied)

Earlier, the accused killer sat impassively in the dock during a brief appearance in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

The man, who was wearing a brown prisoner's jumper and blue jeans but was not handcuffed, was remanded in custody to face court again on September 26.

His lawyer, Tim Meehan, said his client would defend the charges and would apply for Supreme Court bail in the coming weeks.

Daniel was 13 when he disappeared while waiting for a bus at Woombye on the Sunshine Coast on December 7, 2003.


I need to know where Daniel is ... and what sort of area he was taken to.

Denise Morcombe
Mr Morcombe has called for calm and restraint from the public while the court proceedings are underway.

He said while Saturday's arrest was a "tremendous step forward", the family realised there was still a long way to go before the case was settled.

"We are aware it may still be a couple of years or even longer before this matter has fully been run out," he said.

"At the end of the day we want the right person to have a guilty verdict, and we want to find Daniel. That's why we are always cautious and measured and try and do the right thing to make sure that we are heading forward.

"[The police] certainly haven't found any of Daniel's remains or anything significant. We have a long way to go but hopefully we will march towards a guilty verdict from here.

"We are just really pleased [with] where we are and [we will] let the legal process take its course."

Bushland search

Photo: Police conduct a ground search in bushland near the Glass House Mountains (AAP: Queensland Police)

More police joined the search for Daniel's remains in rugged bushland on the Sunshine Coast this morning.

Fifty police and SES volunteers yesterday combed an area behind a macadamia farm in the Beerburrum State Forest, about 40 kilometres from where the teenager disappeared in 2003.

The area was flooded in January, making the search more difficult.

The police service has vowed to continue until any remains are found.

"We're seeing a painstaking forensic search going on in the Glass House Mountains," Premier Anna Bligh said.

"There's still a very long path here, and we should all work to keep Daniel's memory alive while that happens."

At the site yesterday was Queensland's leading forensic pathologist Peter Ellis, who was involved in identifying victims of the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2004 Asian tsunami.

A police spokesman said the pathologist's attendance was standard procedure.

Mr Morcombe says while he and his wife Denise hope to see justice done at some stage with a guilty verdict, their energy remains focused on finding their son.

"We are still looking for Daniel and that is the personal focus for us to see if we can find Daniel. The person that is responsible picked on the wrong family - we would never give up," he said.

"Closure is not a word that we're very comfortable with. A man's been charged. Our priority as parents of Daniel is to find Daniel."

Ms Morcombe said Daniel's remains needed to be found so he could receive a proper burial.

"He needs to be buried with dignity," she said.
First posted August 15, 2011 12:28:23

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Messages In This Thread
RE: Daniel Morcombe (Altar boy) 13, murdered - by aussiefriend - 08-14-2011, 10:53 PM