Friday, January 29, 2010

Couple arrested over Indian man's murder


A young married couple has been arrested in connection with the death of a fellow fruit picker, whom police say was burned alive and left beside a southern NSW road.


NSW police said the body of Indian national Ranjodh Singh, 25, was found beside Wilga Road at Willbriggie, near Griffith, on December 29 last year.

"We will be saying that Mr Singh was alive when his body was set on fire," Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Murdoch told reporters in Sydney after the couple's arrest.

"It will be alleged that the persons involved in this matter were well known to the victim."

A third person is likely to be arrested over Mr Singh's death, Mr Murdoch added.

Previous media reports said the post-mortem examination revealed Mr Singh's throat had been slashed and that he had been stabbed a number of times before being bound and set alight.

Mr Murdoch admitted Mr Singh had "significant" injuries prior to being set alight.

While police wouldn't confirm the nationality of the 23-year-old man and his 20-year-old wife, who were arrested in Sydney's Sans Souci at 11am (AEDT) on Thursday, it is understood they are the same pair prevented from boarding a flight to Nepal earlier this month.

Mr Murdoch said: "The motive for this horrific crime is not race-related".

Representatives of the Immigration Department who were present for the couple's arrest, took a number of other people into custody at the same time.

While Mr Singh had been based in Wagga Wagga, police said he was working in Griffith, where the married couple lived before moving to Sydney.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are calling for information about the occupants of a red 1996 Ford Falcon sedan seen at a carwash in Yambil Street, Griffith, shortly after 3am on December 29.

Police are also keen to talk to anyone who travelled on the 9.30am CountryLink bus from Griffith to Wagga Wagga on December 29.

Information can be provided confidentially via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

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