A Japanese backpacker saved herself from the Salt Creek kidnapper by posting photos of him online, according to new details that have emerged.
ABC News reports the 60-year-old man responsible for attacking two female backpackers in Salt Creek was found guilty of six out of his seven charges over the weekend. He was found guilty of kidnapping, endangering life, causing harm with intent to cause harm and several assault charges, however he was found not guilty of attempted murder.
The Advertiser has now revealed evidence that was previously unheard by the jury before the man’s conviction.
According to prosecutor Jim Pearce SC, the Japanese backpacker was one of twelve women who were offered rides by the kidnapper prior to the attacks, and she was the only one who accepted.
Mr Pearce asked all 12 women to give witness statements to be used as evidence, and it became clear why the Japanese backpacker was able to escape.
“She had been taking photos of the car, of him, of all sorts of things, and making it abundantly clear to the accused that she had sent these photos off to her family and friends,” Mr Pearce said.
“In a sense, it was her insurance policy — she had made a point of letting him know she had identified him in those photos and they had been sent here and there, to more than one person.
“It may well be, and this is speculation I expect, that he got cold feet (because) he took her back to Adelaide … he had to.”
Mr Pearce noted that the kidnapper had sought to travel alone in isolated places with the women, as he had done with the Brazilian woman and German woman he attacked.
“Combine that with the Viagra and the condoms — there was also a bottle of passion pop in the car (at Salt Creek) — it indicates what his true state of mind was,” Mr Pearce added.
“When taken collectively, they give the whole trip its sexual aspect.”
Mr Pearce mentioned that there was a reason why the Japanese backpacker was able to escape, and he returned her safely to Adelaide – quite possibly because she had communicated to a lot of people about her whereabouts and who he was.
The prosecution wanted to present these details before the jury, however defence counsel Bill Boucaut SC objected, claiming that they were unrelated to the case and carried a ‘prejudicial punch’.
