How cops cracked brutal murder case
jack.harbour@news.com.au extradited back to Australia, where they were convicted of murder.
“By the time we even knew they existed, they’d gone,” Detective Senior Sergeant Garrett said.
“He (one of the New Zea- landers) had been bitten we believe during the murder, during the struggle and he’d left small amounts of blood behind.
“He wasn’t known to police here at all. He’d only been here a short time and promptly left.
“They went way way overboard and the jury was satisfied that in the process of robbing him, the way they tied him up endangered his life.”
Police say the attack was motivated by Johnston, who had lost his job at Harbour Town and intended to rob Dwyer. During the robbery the trio killed the drug dealer.
Sergeant Todd Miller was the officer to finally arrest and charge Johnston five months after the murder and said the Labrador local was shocked when he was approached by police.
“He has no idea that you even suspect him as the murderer and to say Dustin Johnston SERGEANT TODD MILLER you’re under arrest for murder … it’s the ultimate, it’s why you join the job,” he said
“Tenacity, teamwork and thoroughness – that’s the only way you solve those things.
“The fingerprints that we located led us up one path and you’ve got to eliminate them all.”
Senior Sergeants Simon Garrett and Peter Robb, Sergeants James Bolton, John Carey and Todd Miller and Senior Constable Catherine Brown were yesterday awarded Assistant Commissioner’s Certificates for their exemplary work in the 2010 conviction of the three men for the murder of Dwyer.
They were six of a large number of police officers recognised for outstanding service at the Queensland Police Service Gold Coast District awards ceremony at Broadbeach.