100 Men Called To Inquest

Sun Herald

Saturday September 16, 1989

By FRANK WALKER

AFTER a six-year investigation into the murder of a woman on a remote island resort, more than 100 men from around Australia will have to appear at an inquest next month.

The men were all on Brampton Island the day waitress Celia Natasha (Tasha)Douty, 41, was found murdered on a beach.

The naked body of the mother of two was found on a secluded beach at Dinghy Bay by an island staff member on September 2, 1983.

Police believe she was bludgeoned to death with a large rock or brick while sunbaking nude on the island, north of Mackay.

Footprints in the sand indicated she ran for about 200 metres before her killer caught her.

The murderer has eluded police for more than six years. Mackay coroner Mr Tom Bradshaw, SM, will hear evidence over five days from October 30.

Brisbane homicide Detective Sergeant Mick Austin said that 230 people were on the island the day of the murder.

"Semen on the towel found next to her body leads us to conclude that her killer was a male," he said last night. "Detectives have been actively pursuing the case for six years but they can't take it any further now.

"We have gone as far as we can with the case. It is unique in that it happened on an island. You would have thought a process of elimination would have uncovered a suspect."

Det Austin said that nearly 400 people had been interviewed in connection with the case and 370 statements taken.

"It will be up to the coroner now to decide if there is a suspect."Subpoenas have been served on men now living in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Brisbane as well as Mackay.

Douty's body was found at 11.15am by one of several search parties raised when she failed to report for work on the island resort, about 50km north-east of Mackay.

The popular waitress had joined the staff only six months earlier, having moved from Melbourne.

Police used tourists' photos taken on the day to help identify men on the island. They managed to identify all but a couple.

© 1989 Sun Herald

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