(Picture: Facebook)
A 31-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a nine-year-old after her body was found in a barrel in Australia.
Her body was found in a barrel near to the Colo River, New South Wales, on Tuesday, five days after she went missing in the state’s Blue Mountains. She cannot be named for legal reasons.
The Queensland schoolgirl had been holidaying with her mother at the time. Justin Stein has been charged with her murder, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
Police allege Mr Stein elicited scrutiny with his movements by purchasing a number of 40-kilogram sandbags from a hardware shop last Thursday afternoon.
Police say they tracked Mr Stein to the Colo River after an alleged failed attempt to launch a boat in Sydney. The location is around an hour from where the girl was last seen.
“Those movements included ... to fuel a boat and then to try and float that on one of the docks on Sydney Harbour ... then tracking that individual back to the location [where the body was found],” said NSW Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson on Wednesday.
Mr Stein briefly appeared in court on Wednesday morning where he was formally refused bail. According to court documents, police believe the alleged victim was killed last Thursday.
During Wednesday’s court hearing, the defendant’s lawyer said his client had long-term mental health problems. Prosecutors said there were "complexities" in the case, but did not give further detail.
He is next due to appear in court in March. Police said their investigations are still continuing into the case, and that they wish to speak to the victim’s mother.
They have been unable to do so, as she is currently in hospital.
In an emotional tribute on Facebook, the young girl’s biological father said: "We will get the answers for you baby, and we will honour you properly.
"This is not the end of you or your story."
