Coorong backpackers kidnap, rape accused wrote online about looking for marriage
Man accused of atrocities at Salt Creek
PHOTO A Facebook photo of the accused man, who faced court via video link on Wednesday where bail was refused.
FACEBOOK
An Adelaide man accused of kidnapping and raping two foreign backpackers at a campsite in a national park wrote online that he was looking for a woman who was ready for marriage.
Key points:
One of two backpackers released from Flinders Medical Centre
Second backpacker remains in hospital
Accused maintains multiple online profiles
Alleged victims were travelling interstate with accused
The accused man has several Facebook accounts and a dating profile where he describes himself as "respectful to women", saying he wants one with a good or athletic body shape, and that he likes walks on the beach, boating, fishing and camping.
One of the two backpackers allegedly kidnapped and raped at Coorong National Park, south-east of Adelaide, has now been discharged from hospital.
The women in their early 20s were at an isolated campsite at Salt Creek on Tuesday when the 59-year-old-man allegedly attacked them.
The second backpacker remains in Flinders Medical Centre in a stable condition.
The accused man faced court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, engaging in sexual intercourse without consent and causing serious harm.
There is a suppression order on his identify and any information that could identify him.
One of the accused man's Facebook accounts has photographs of him camping at Salt Creek, a remote area of the Coorong popular with fisherman and off-road vehicle owners.
The campsite where the alleged crimes occurred was reportedly set up quite some distance from the beach entrance.
The women allegedly were travelling interstate with the accused attacker.
Family of the accused man are struggling to come to terms with his arrest.
"It shocking, shocking news ... dreadful for me, it is dreadful," one relative said.
Campsite at Salt Creek
PHOTO The campsite where two female backpackers were allegedly assaulted and kidnapped at Salt Creek.
ABC NEWS
Superintendent James Blandford said the two women had been driving "with a newly acquainted person" and "effectively found themselves in a situation that has turned out to be scary and physically bad for them".
"One of the victims was able to run away and came across some people fishing in the area," he said.
"They were able to comfort and secure her and make a call to the police.
"Given the nature of the charges, [the alleged victims'] situation was obviously very dire and they were somewhat distressed."
Lawyers for the accused had requested home detention but the application was withdrawn on Wednesday after Magistrate Paul Foley said he would need persuading given the serious nature of the charges.
Coorong District Council Mayor Neville Jaensch said the community was shocked by the alleged attacks.
"We regard the Coorong as a very safe area," he said.
"We think of it as the Kakadu of South Australia, quite frankly, and it is a tragedy.
"The heroes in this are the young men and other community members who rallied when they were needed and they did everything right."
Police praised witnesses and members of the public who helped them find and arrest the accused man from a nearby site to the alleged crime scene.
Aerial view of the Salt Creek campsite
PHOTO An aerial view of the Salt Creek campsite where the alleged crimes happened.
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