NSW: Burrell not ruled out as author of ransom note court

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-1999
NSW: Burrell not ruled out as author of ransom note court

A court in Sydney heard today the man accused of kidnapping and murdering Sydney mother
KERRY WHELAN could not be ruled out as the author of a ransom note for more than $1 million.

But two experts were also unable to positively link him with the note.

Linguistics lecturer JOHN GIBBONS said he was unable to conclude who the author of
the note was, but that BRUCE BURRELL could not be ruled out.

Forty-six-year-old BURRELL, of Bungonia in the New South Wales southern highlands,
is charged with kidnapping and murdering Mrs WHELAN, the wife of millionaire businessman
BERNARD WHELAN, in May, 1997.

The 39-year-old mother of three was last seen leaving a car park in Parramatta in Sydney's
west, and the following day her husband received a ransom note demanding $US1 million
($A1.5 million).

Mrs WHELAN's body has never been found.

Dr GIBBONS told a committal hearing today the ransom note contained deliberate mistakes
intended to cover up the identity of its author.

He said the note contained references intended to suggest Mrs WHELAN had been kidnapped
by a foreign gang.

Police had asked Dr GIBBONS to compare the ransom note with BURRELL's handwriting to
see if he was the author of the note, but the expert witness said the documents did not
provide any solid evidence that Mr BURRELL was the likely author of the note.

Language consultant ROBERT EAGLESON also said insufficient material had been provided
to connect BURRELL with the ransom note.

BURRELL used to work for Mr WHELAN's company, Crown Equipment, and his property at
Bungonia was the scene of a massive five-day police search which failed to find any trace
of Mrs WHELAN.

AAP RTV gl/sb/sub/jn S

KEYWORD: BURRELL (SYDNEY)

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