Man ‘googled tide times’ before body found in river
A man accused of killing his ex-partner and dumping her body in a river allegedly Googled local tide times on the night he disappeared, a judge was told.
Crystal Beale’s body was found in the Brisbane River by a paddler in the early hours of February 22, hours after a family dinner.
Her former partner, Jesse Wahlen Beale, 49, was charged seven months later with domestic violence-related murder and tampering with a corpse.
Beale, who applied for bail in the Supreme Court of Queensland on Wednesday, was accused of conducting Google searches on tide times and security camera locations on the night his former partner disappeared.
Mother-of-two Ms Beale, 49, was last seen arguing with the defendant at a restaurant and bottle shop in Brisbane’s southern suburbs at 9.30pm on February 21.
Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco, who opposed bail, said: “At 11.36pm that night (Beale) was doing a Google search on the Bureau of Meteorology website to find out tide times.”
“The next day at 3.49pm (Beale) performs a Google search for ‘does a VPN hide browsing history’ and at 4.01pm he searches for ‘CCTV cameras near me’.”
Judge Lincoln Crowley heard the prosecution’s case was strengthened by CCTV footage, vehicle and phone location tracking and forensics.
“The pathologist’s report indicates that the deceased had injuries to her neck consistent with strangulation, and that the pathologist considers that she alone may have caused his death,” Ms Marco said.
“The other expert report found there were not enough diatoms (algae) in his body tissue to conclude that he entered the water while he was still alive.”
Ms Marco said Ms Beale called the defendant a “rapist” after finding images on the defendant’s phone of him allegedly sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious during an argument in the restaurant.
Defense attorney Greg McGuire said the prosecution’s case was based on “absurd” scenarios.
“In the prosecution’s case he should have killed her in the car between 9.30pm and 12.30pm and carried her body to the river without being caught on CCTV,” Mr McGuire said.
“Or the two of them walked together towards the river without being caught on CCTV.”
Judge Crowley heard Beale should be granted bail because he had strong ties to the community, had no previous criminal history and had close friends willing to post $500,000 bail.
“This is a circumstantial case. Their case is difficult to pursue and it’s certainly not a strong case,” Mr. McGuire said.
Judge Crowley heard witnesses could testify that Ms Beale was an alcoholic with heavy drug use and mental health problems.
“When (a witness) recognized Crystal, she would threaten suicide numerous times,” Mr. McGuire said.
This was not disputed, Ms Beale said, asking her client to stop the car on his way home from a restaurant before going out and running away on the night he disappeared.
“In November he said he was going to jump into the river. He threatened to jump in front of a bus,” Mr McGuire said.
Judge Crowley rejected the bail application.
“The prosecution’s case, although circumstantial, appears to be a pretty strong one right now. (Beale) is a flight risk,” he said.
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