Mass DNA test to seek killer of backpacker

Police investigating the murder of Caroline Stuttle, the British backpacker found dead under a bridge in Queensland, Australia, plan to conduct DNA tests on thousands of men in the hope of identifying her killer.

Ms Stuttle, 19, from York, was killed in the small town of Bundaberg, 220 miles north of Brisbane, two months ago. Police recently found traces of saliva on the bridge and plan to ask the local male population, from juveniles to middle-aged men, to provide voluntary saliva swabs in an effort to find a match.

Ms Stuttle disappeared while walking back to her campsite from the town's post office, where she had been using the public telephone. Police believe she was robbed and then fell or was pushed off the 30ft-high Burnett Bridge. A man aged 25 to 30 was seen walking behind her.

Detective Inspector Jeff Oliphant said in Brisbane yesterday that saliva provided for DNA testing could be used to eliminate or identify a suspect. He said of the sample found at the crime scene: "He may be a totally innocent person walking across the bridge, but we've just got to try to do something to identify whose sample that is."

Ms Stuttle, who was on a round-the-world trip with her friend, Sarah Holiday, also 19, died of head and spinal injuries from the fall. Police say she received minor injuries before she fell, but there was no indication of sexual assault.

Bundaberg, a sugar growing town, has a population of 45,000. Because of the direction in which the suspect was walking, police are particularly interested in men who live north of the bridge. They plan to conduct a mail drop this week, asking them to provide a cheek swab.

But civil liberties groups warned local men to think carefully before they agreed to the tests, which could simply help police to build an unauthorised DNA database.