Qld: Man's body found in burning car

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2009
Qld: Man's body found in burning car

BRISBANE, Aug 21 AAP - A man's body, believed to be that of missing man Brian Bathgate,
has been found in the rear of a burning ute south of Brisbane on Friday afternoon.

The 55-year-old disappeared from his Mount Warren Park workplace in suspicious circumstances
on Thursday morning.

Police found blood and a knife at the landscaping supply centre where Mr Bathgate lived
and worked after family and employees at the centre raised the alarm around 8am (AEST)
on Thursday.

Detective Superintendent David Hutchinson said a Toyota Hilux believed to belong to
Mr Bathgate was found on fire in a nearby sugar cane farm at Eagleby on Friday.

"We have located a vehicle identical to the vehicle we were looking for and it contains
remains of a male person," Det Supt Hutchinson said.

He said police found the car and body after receiving reports of a fire around 2pm
(AEST) on Friday.

"Police will need to wait until the result of a post mortem before the body can be
positively identified," Det Supt Hutchinson said.

Police are now looking for a man they believe may be linked to the incident.

"We are appealing to anyone who saw a man walking along Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road
between Riedel Road and Loganholme between the hours of 6.30am (AEST) and 9.30am (AEST)
on Thursday morning."

He said the man was believed to be in his 30s and was wearing a black t-shirt and long
black pants and was soaking wet.

AAP peb/ash

KEYWORD: BATHGATE

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