Like a zombie
Backpacker’s 2-month rape hell on Oz road trip Victim, 22, held by ‘ex’ but gets help at petrol station
wounds to her face and neck. She described her as being in a “state of shock, almost zombie-like”.
Beverley added: “She pulled up and fuelled up and then when she came in, she couldn’t pay. The girl was crying and our person told her to just go outside and have another look for her wallet, take a deep breath and come back in.
“When she was in the shop, she was crying and shaking the whole time – she was really upset. There were two marks on her neck, along with the black eyes.”
After a while, the woman came back in and told them she had contacted her ex-boyfriend. Beverely went on: “I said, ‘Is he the same one that has given you those black eyes?’ And she said, yes.” The woman then went back to her Mitsubishi Pajero and drove off without paying. Beverley followed the car and then alerted a local police patrol.
Detective Inspector Paul Hart said the woman was distressed when officers stopped the Mitsubishi on the Warrego Highway at Mitchell.
He added that the officers found her attacker hiding in a compartment in the boot and they had “potentially saved this young girl’s life”.
Hart said: “Given what’s happened to her, the extent of what’s happened and over the period of time, anything may have transpired. They have formed some 200 miles sort of relationship. By her account, that has soured to the point that while they were travelling around she has tried to leave but was held against her will.
“She has shown police a number of injuries she has sustained. As a result of speaking to her, she has disclosed that she has been held against her will.”
Hart said the backpacker had not been aware of any of the areas she was forced to drive to, which made it more difficult to try to escape.
He added: “From our investigations, it would seem they have been living in that vehicle and we’ll be alleging that they’ve travelled throughout different parts of the state, with her basically being told to take him to different locations.
“And throughout the course of that, there have been property-type offences up and down the coast.”
A 22-year-old man from Cairns has been charged with a string of offences including rape, strangulation and assault between January 2 and March 5.
He has also been charged with deprivation of liberty, causing wilful damage, possessing drugs and drug equipment, and obstructing police.
The man – who also cannot be named at the moment – appeared before magistrates in the nearby town of Roma and was refused bail. He is due to appear in court again on May 23.
It emerged last night that the man had changed his Facebook status to “married” just a week after meeting the woman.
One of her friends said he was “really clingy” and “just blew into town and latched on to the first single girl he met”.
He added: “When he changed his relationship status on Facebook, I thought it was too fast – she never changed hers.”
Meanwhile, police were still waiting to ask the traumatised 22-year-old more questions, as they are being careful not to push her too hard.
Hart said the “very prolonged” ordeal had left her with psychological wounds as well as the physical ones.
He said: “It has taken great courage for our victim to provide the detail she has.”
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are supporting a British woman following an incident in Queensland and remain in contact with the local authorities.”