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Teens arrested over grandfather’s murder

Neighbours didn’t even know he had a granddaughter
SA Police

Two women have been arrested after the death of a “kind and gentle” grandfather in a crime that has shocked a South Australian community. 

Britney Jade Dwyer, 19 and her friend Bernadette Burns, 21 were arrested over the death of Ms Dwyer’s grandfather Robert Whitwell.

In court today, Magistrate Barry Cosgrove ordered the two women to be extradited to South Australia where they will be formally charged for the alleged murder of Mr Whitwell.

The elderly man, 81, was found at 11:30am by neighbours at his Craigmore home after he failed to collect his mail.

Neighbours Paula and John Elworthty told the Sunday Mail “he was a very independent man who would keep his garden looking lovely. He had a great sense of humour, he always had a story to tell, a yarn.”

Mrs Elworthy said she didn’t even know he had a granddaughter. She added that Mr Whitehall was a very security conscious man and she found it “odd” that his door was unlocked when the body was found.

SA Police officers said in a statement at the time “police are not able to elaborate further on the cause of death, or what factors in the case were initially considered ‘unexplained’. These factors are central to the ongoing investigation.”

Mr Whitwell’s brother Geoffrey Whitwell told the ABC: “He was a kind and gentle man who loved his family, all of his family and as far as a brother, my older brother, you could not get a better brother.

“As a family, we will stick together as we always have and we will get through it”

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