Vic: Body pulled out of Yarra
22 Dec 2008 6:22 PM
MELBOURNE, Dec 22 AAP - A man whose body, with bound hands, was pulled out of a busy Melbourne shipping channel on Monday is believed to have been reported missing.
Police recovered the body in a busy stretch of the Yarra River, downstream from the main Melbourne docks, near the Westgate Bridge.
Acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Cheesman said the man's hands had been bound in front of him, leading police to regard his death as suspicious.
"He was bound with some sort of plastic tie or plastic tape," Det Snr Sgt Cheesman said.
He said the cause of death had not been established, but he had a small injury over his right eye.
The man, of African appearance, was carrying identification which indicated he lived in inner Melbourne.
"There is a report of a missing person," Snr Sgt Cheesman said.
It is believed the man's wife reported him missing yesterday.
Police hope a post-mortem examination, expected to be performed on Monday night, will determine whether they treat the case as a homicide.
"Once we get a picture of what happened to him and whether there are any suspicious circumstance ... will determine whether we continue with the investigation or whether it goes back to local police," Snr Sgt Cheesman said.
The body, clothed in jeans, a checked shirt and a beige vest, was discovered by the Harbour Patrol floating in the river at about 2.45pm (AEDT).
