The elderly owner of a popular tourist attraction in the NSW opal mining town of Lightning Ridge has been charged with the murder of 39-year-old Christine Neilan more than 18 months ago.
Ms Neilan’s body was found in bushland near Amigo’s Castle on January 9, 2020, with serious head injuries that police revealed on Tuesday were “caused by [a] gunshot wound”.
Christine Neiman’s body was found on January 9, 2020.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Central North Police District established Strike Force Bullarook to investigate the circumstances of her death.
When a year passed without a result, Ms Neilan’s family issued a plea for assistance from the public.
Over the past five days, strike force officers were assisted by specialist forensic police, bomb squad, dog unit and Marine Area Command to carry out crime scene searches “at a premises and surrounding bushland at Lightning Ridge” where it’s alleged Ms Neilan was killed, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told reporters on Tuesday.
Police divers search the property.
During the searches, “a number of exhibits of note were recovered”, including a firearm which will be forensically examined.
Following the search and further enquiries, 73-year-old Vittorio Stefanato was arrested and charged with murder on Monday. He did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused at Walgett Local Court on Tuesday.
Amigo’s Castle owner Vittorio Stefanato was charged with murder on Monday.
Owner of Lightning Ridge castle attraction charged with woman’s murder
Source: Philippines Alive
