froggie Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 some people are downright stupid. its the big story in the news at the moment down here: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24978767-421,00.html http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24982814-1243,00.html A MAN is in police custody after a little girl was allegedly thrown from the West Gate Bridge this morning. The girl, believed to be five years old, was pulled from the water by water police close to the pumping station at Spotswood about 9.30am AEDT, Melbourne's Herald Sun reported. The man in custody is believed to be from Hawthorn, Assistant Commissioner Ken Lay told 3AW radio. Witnesses told police they saw a man stop on an inbound lane near the top of the West Gate. It is believed the young child was then thrown over the edge. The man then drove off, they said. Police say the vehicle was a white Toyota 4WD and the incident happened around 9.10am. They have appealed to the public to provide any information they may have. Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley told ABC radio that the child had been flown by helicopter to the Royal Children's Hospital in a critical condition. Related Coverage Tragic: Three teens killed in crash Bridge father left note in houseNEWS.com.au, 30 Jan 2009 Father in West Gate Bridge case 'suicidal'NEWS.com.au, 29 Jan 2009 Bridge tragedy - how could he?Herald Sun, 30 Jan 2009 Bridge tragedy 'beyond belief'Daily Telegraph, 30 Jan 2009 Girl dies in Melbourne bridge tragedyThe Australian, 30 Jan 2009 "The child suffered fairly extensive injuries and the paramedics spent some time trying to resuscitate the child," he said. Ambulance Victoria was called just after 9.30am to a report of a child in the water underneath the West Gate Bridge, Mr Bentley said. "I understand the police boat was used to get the child from the water to the Yarraville side." A CHILD'S life has been taken, a young family destroyed and an entire nation shocked. Arthur Freeman, 36, was last night in an "acute psychiatric state" after allegedly murdering his daughter Darcy, 4, by throwing her 58m from Melbourne's West Gate Bridge. The horrifying events leading up to her death are believed to have been captured by traffic cameras but police said that the little girl had been in a 2004 white Landcruiser with her father and brothers, aged 6 and 8, when it stopped in an in-bound lane about 9.10am yesterday. "A male in that vehicle has taken a young girl . . . and dropped her over the bridge and she's landed in the water," Homicide Detective Inspector Steve Clark claimed. Gallery: Where it happened, and how the police reacted He said it appeared witnesses did not have a chance to intervene. "It's all happened fairly quickly, nobody had the opportunity," he said. "He's got straight out of the car, taken the young girl and walked to the edge of the bridge." Trying to explain what happened Miraculously, Darcy survived the plunge - equivalent to 17 stories - into the Yarra River as horrified witnesses on the busy gateway called triple-0. Water police took just 10 minutes to reach her and pull her from the water near a pumping station not far from the bridge. Accused dad 'suicidal', unfit for court Paramedics then worked frantically for 50 minutes to stabilise her at the river's edge, before she was flown by helicopter to the Royal Children's Hospital suffering massive internal injuries. Doctors pronounced her dead at 1.35pm. Her father, from the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, allegedly left the scene with his two surviving children and was then spotted by security staff as he walked around the Commonwealth Law Courts in central Melbourne about 10.30am. Witnesses to the unspeakable Witnesses said Freeman was "visibly distressed". Police were called and he offered no resistance as he was taken into custody, begging court staff to "take care of my kids". At the time of his arrest, police had no indication Freeman was connected to the West Gate Bridge incident. Freeman was later charged with Darcy's murder and was scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrate's Court for a filing hearing at 5pm but the court was told he was suicidal and unfit to be interviewed by police. Ray Chesterton: No real warning was possible He was remanded in custody and will next appear in court on May 21 for a committal mention. Insp Clark said Darcy's mother Peta Freeman had been devastated by the tragedy. "She's currently assisting police the best she can in terrible, terrible circumstances," he said. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 It was in the papers out here, too. froggie. Gruesome stuff like that tends to make it around the globe in the press. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
embiggen Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 what the hell is wrong with people? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ms. yvon Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 and her little brothers in the car, too. jesus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I'm better off not hearing about this kind of stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rareair Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 wow. incredibly sad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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