Qld: Man charged with murder of teenage girl

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2001
Qld: Man charged with murder of teenage girl

(Eds: Changing keyword from Rebecca)



BUNDABERG, Qld, April 18 AAP - A man was charged in a Queensland court today with murdering
Gin Gin schoolgirl Rebecca Richardson, who disappeared more than two years ago.

Jodie Martin Stephen Van Der Vegt, 28, unemployed, was remanded in custody to appear
in Bundaberg Magistrates Court again on Friday.

Police prosecutor, Senior Constable Wayne Puxty, said Van Der Vegt had not obtained
legal advice and would not yet apply for bail.

Van Der Vegt was arrested by detectives from Brisbane at 6am today.

Homicide squad Detective Senior Sergeant Darryl Johnson told a news conference ahead
of the court hearing that the arrest was the result of information received from the public
after the investigation into Rebecca's disappearance was formally reopened on April 10.

Rebecca, then 15, was last seen on November 28, 1998, when she left friends at the
annual Santa Fair in the Gin Gin showgrounds.

She failed to meet up with them later that night.

Police have not found Rebecca's body.

Detective Johnson said he could not comment on how the teenager was murdered, whether
a murder weapon had been found, whether Van Der Vegt had been interviewed or if he had
given police a statement before he was charged.

"We're hopeful for the family's sake that we can recover her body," he said.

AAP jfs/Regdaily/jhm/las/sb r

KEYWORD: VEGT NIGHTLEAD

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