VIC: body found in central Victoria

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-1999
VIC: body found in central Victoria

MELBOURNE, April 16 AAP - A body found in central Victoria was believed to be that of a
missing 48-year-old fruit picker whose blood-stained van was found abandoned in New South
Wales on April 5, Victorian police said today.

A post mortem would be carried out today to establish cause of death.

Police said clothing on the body had been cut, indicating a knife might have been used
against the man.

It was believed the body - which was found in bushland south of Axedale, near Bendigo,
yesterday - could be that of a fruit picker whose bloodied van was found on the roadside at
Goulburn, in the New South Wales southern highlands, on April 5.

Detectives were trying to trace the movements of the man, who was last seen at a tomato
farm at Echuca around March 27.

Homicide detectives wanted to hear from anyone who had found a knife, possibly with a long
blade, near the Calder or McIvor Highways, east and south of Bendigo.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Homicide Squad on 9865 2770 or Crime
Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP lmw/kr

KEYWORD: BODY

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