Man Murdered and Burnt In A Car

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1946, Page 5

Man Murdered and Burnt In A Car

Press Assn.

BRUTAL ATTACK ON FIANCEE

Bv Telegravh

-Copyright

Received Thui-sday, 8.5U p.m. HYDA'FY, August 29. In oue oi' the most savage crimes in Australian annals, a ma.ii was murdered and incinerated in a car and his fiaiicee struck down and raped by a sex maniac. The erime oceurred 011 the low iindulating headland oi Sandou's Point near Bulli 011 the south coast oi New South \Yales. First intimation oi the tragedy was received at 4.30 a.m. today when a surveyor's assistant living in the only house 011 tlie point, saw a niotoi' car blazing about 100 yards away. lie and a iriine manager raced to the spot with a fire extinguixher and t'ound the body oi' a man huddled 111 the back seat and liurned lieyond reeognition: They then hea rd moans coming i'roin a nearby ditch. The moans came Ironi a semi-conscious girl. who was bleeding t'rom wounds in the head. She was taken to Bulli distriet hospital suffering from a probable 1'racture oi the skull. severe sliock, hruises. and abra sions to the body. arms and liead. I11 a reeonsti'uctioii oi tlie events oi the night from scraps of iniormation they have lieen^able to collect from various sources, the jiolicc have estalilislied thal Fecil J0I111 Kelly, aged 35, of Port Kemltla, and IMavis Crompton, aged 24, of Thirrdul, to whom he was engaged, drove out to Sandon's Point about 7.30 p.m. yeslerday. The area is a favouritc rcndezvons l'or lovers, but last niglit was bitlerly cold and a south wiud was swecping Ihe lieadland, so Ihe couplepul ti]) Ihe side eurtains. Soon tifler, their at tent ion was allracted by someone moving ,'tl the rettr of Ihe car. Kelly got out lo invcsligate and before Ihe horrified gaze of his fiancee, was striu-k down by a man wiehling an iron bar. She screnmed and jumped from tlie car. The klller unhesitatingly dealt her a sitnilar hlow. on the heao, knocking her down. The allacker then outragedthe semi-eonscious girl as she lay on Ihe grass a iew yards froni the body oi her lover. lie repeafcd his ficndish atfaek fotir times in ihe next six hotirs and in tiddilion snbjected her to other disgusting indignit ies. About 4.30 a.m.. Ihe killer let't the girl. 'picked it)) 1lle body of KtIIv and duni])ed it in the back oi the car. Tying a handkercliief round Aliss Crompton 's face as ti gag, be threw her too inlo the ear and said: "I am going to kill you too. I will burn you both." Despite severe head iujuries, she was still eonscious. She ieigned death by closing her eyes and holding her breatb wliil 0 tlie man struck matehes close to her face. Tearing open the upholstery oi the car seats, the man then set fire to them and puslied the car down the slope towards a cliff edge.. rr.he car travelled about 200 vards-xJmvn the .gen'tle slope until tlie... front , j^'h.eeks \yenk-. - i nto - a sliallow. diiclr n,|aiv'ihe bri.i;]i '"oi the , cliff. . A / ' _= . . The girl had euougli strength left to stagger from the Itlazing car and collapse in the ditch. A radio ea II brought 50 detectives racing to the spot and within an hour Police cars, niotorcyeles and vans had taken uj) positions 011 all arterial roads, railway stations and intersections. In addition, a Police aeroplanc circled the Bulli distriet keeping in touch with the police wireless cars 011 the ground. A description of tlie killer was soon being given over radio stations. He has not yet been found. Miss Crompton's eondition is still serious, but this afternoon doctors were confident that she would recover.