Qld: Townsville soldier refused bail for child abduction

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2003
Qld: Townsville soldier refused bail for child abduction

By Vera Devai

BRISBANE, April 21 AAP - A Townsville man accused of abducting an eight-year-old girl
from her north Queensland home was today refused bail.

The Townsville Magistrates Court denied the 36-year-old man bail on the grounds he
was likely to reoffend if released.

Police allege the man, reported to be a Townsville soldier, removed a screen from the
girl's bedroom window at her Kirwan home in the coastal city of Thuringowa, and broke
in while she slept between 9pm and 9.30pm (AEST) on Friday night.

The girl's parents had been watching a football game on television and discovered she
was missing when they checked on her at half time.

The man allegedly took the girl to a nearby park and committed an indecent act in front of her.

He was arrested last night and charged with burglary, taking a child for immoral purposes,
expose a child to indecent act, possession of an unlicensed firearm and fail to secure
a firearm.

He is due to appear for a committal on June 5 and was not required to enter a plea.

AAP ved/sek/jlw

KEYWORD: ABDUCTION NIGHTLEAD

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