Fed: Painful return to Norfolk Island for Patton's parents

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2006
Fed: Painful return to Norfolk Island for Patton's parents

By Kim Arlington

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - Ron and Carol Patton spent their honeymoon on Norfolk Island almost
40 years ago.

But they'll make a painful return there this weekend, looking for answers over the
murder of their daughter Janelle.

"We have to be there," Ron Patton said today. "We have to be there to support Janelle."

Mr and Mrs Patton will be in the Pacific island territory's court on Monday for the
start of the committal hearing for Glenn McNeill, who is accused of murdering Janelle
Patton there in 2002.

They are determined to be there when prosecutors present their case against McNeill,
a New Zealand chef.

"Naturally it's not going to give all the details, but we'll learn a bit more about
events," Mr Patton said.

A vivacious Sydneysider, Ms Patton had been living on Norfolk Island for two-and-a-half
years when she died on March 31, 2002.

The 29-year-old disappeared while on a walk. About six hours later, her body was discovered
at the Cockpit Waterfall Reserve, partially wrapped in a sheet of black plastic.

She had suffered more than 60 separate injuries, including a stab wound to the chest.

It was the island's first recorded murder in 150 years. There were 2,771 residents
and visitors on Norfolk that day, and rumours ran rife about which of them may have been
responsible.

Police collected more than 1,500 fingerprints for comparison with prints found on the
plastic sheet, plus hundreds of surveys detailing people's movements on the day of the
murder.

But by the time an inquest was held in mid-2004, no suspects had been identified.

Sixteen people were named as being of interest to police, including the victim's friends,
former lovers and individuals with whom she clashed. Even Ms Patton's parents, who arrived
for a visit the day before she died, came under investigation.

Ultimately, Coroner Ron Cahill recorded an open finding, saying investigators needed
a breakthrough.

As the island's Court of Petty Sessions heard in February, it was DNA evidence that
delivered one.

Glenn Peter Charles McNeill was arrested on February 1, at his home in Nelson on New
Zealand's South Island, and was extradited to Norfolk Island a week later.

When the 28-year-old father of two faced court, charged with murder, it was alleged
his fingerprints had been identified on the plastic sheet found with the body.

Police searched the flat where McNeill, a temporary island resident, had lived in March
2002, as well as his unregistered Honda Civic.

Advanced DNA tests matched scalp hairs found in the boot of McNeill's car to Ms Patton's,
the court was told, and glass fragments from the boot and outside his flat were believed
to come from the same source as fragments found on Ms Patton's body and clothes.

Interviewed after his arrest by the head of the investigation, Australian Federal Police
Detective Bob Peters, McNeill said he had accidentally struck Ms Patton with his car on
Rooty Hill Road.

He allegedly admitted to inflicting her fatal injuries, and did not implicate anyone
else as being involved in the incident or the dumping of her body, the court also heard.

Further allegations are expected to emerge during the committal hearing. Ron Cahill,
this time serving as Norfolk's chief magistrate, will then decide if there is enough evidence
for McNeill to stand trial for murder.

For nearly six months McNeill has been held on remand in Sydney's Silverwater Jail,
at the island's expense.

But the self-governing Pacific territory is in a precarious financial position, and
the Australian government has chipped in with $70,000 to ensure the hearing proceeds.

Forensic experts from across Australia, and as far afield as the United States, are
involved in the case, and much of the money will go towards the cost of video conferencing
equipment.

AAP ka/klw/it/de

KEYWORD: PATTON (AAP BACKGROUNDER) (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

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