Brauer's killer left DNA, court told

Birgit Brauer

DNA and fingerprint evidence tie murder accused Michael Scott Wallace to the slain German backpacker Birgit Brauer, a court has been told.

On the first day of a depositions hearing in the New Plymouth District Court, it was revealed that Ms Brauer was so badly beaten around the head with an iron bar that her skull looked like a "jigsaw puzzle" - but it was the stab wound through her heart that killed her.

The Crown says that when police found her belongings, cigarette butts with Wallace's DNA were nearby. Her diary was found with his fingerprints in it.

A jogger found the 28-year-old German tourist's body lying in trees at Lucys Gully near Oakura, southwest of New Plymouth last September.

Her boots and socks had been removed, her breasts were exposed and her fly was down but there was no evidence of any sexual assault.

It is believed a man who stopped to use the toilet scared her attacker away.

Police claim that attacker was Wallace.

Appearing at the hearing which will determine if he will stand trial for Ms Brauer's murder, 44-year-old Wallace was dressed in a green tracksuit that had a rip in the shoulder seam.

He had a heavy beard and tattoos on his arms and neck. He held a pair of gold reading glasses in his hands but never put them on.

During the next two weeks the Crown will call 47 witnesses, many of whom reported seeing a man matching Wallace's description on the day Ms Brauer was murdered and during the weeks of the investigation.

Crown prosecutor Tim Brewer told the court Ms Brauer arrived in New Zealand on February 17 last year.

She spent most of her time in the South Island before travelling to Wanganui on September 7 to stay with Caryl Blomkvist and her husband, who offered board and food in exchange for four hours' work each day on their farm.

Mrs Blomkvist described Birgit as a young woman with a sense of humour and quiet confidence.

"She didn't talk a lot about herself but she was interested in hearing what we did and she would answer questions."

Mrs Blomkvist said she warned Ms Brauer about the dangers of hitchhiking. "I spoke to her and said it could be dangerous and she said that she had been safe."

On Tuesday, September 17, the Blomkvists dropped Ms Brauer on the side of State Highway 3 so she could continue hitchhiking her way up New Zealand.

They watched as she caught a ride north and then waited for her call later in the day to say she had reached her next destination safely. That call never came and calls to her cellphone went unanswered.

The police say Ms Brauer was picked up in Waitotara by Wallace in a Toyota Hilux that he had failed to return to his boss the previous month.

It is alleged he then drove her to Lucys Gully.

"The prosecution cannot say exactly what took place there but ... it seems clear that she tried to run away from the defendant but he caught her," said Mr Brewer.

She was then dragged face-down to the road and struck repeatedly about the head with an iron bar.

The blows caused extensive injuries that "left Ms Brauer's skull looking like a jigsaw puzzle". She was then dragged into the bush.

"He did not sexually assault her ... but instead killed her with a single stab wound through the heart."

It is alleged Wallace then drove to Cardiff where he spent some time by a river going through Ms Brauer's belongings.

Mr Brewer said police later found some of Ms Brauer's belongings at the river. Near them were cigarette butts with Wallace's DNA on them. A thin metal rod, believed to have caused Ms Brauer's head injuries, was also found there.

Several days later the Toyota Hilux was found in the Ohau River. Ms Brauer's backpacks and other items, including her diary with Wallace's fingerprints in it, were found at Lake Rotokare.

Wallace was arrested on October 8 after a police chase.

When spoken to by police Wallace said he had difficulty remembering things because of the effects of drugs.