Man remanded over Norfolk Island killing

Glenn McNeill

A 28-year-old Nelson man has been remanded in custody in connection with the murder of a woman on Norfolk Island nearly four years ago.

Glenn Peter Charles McNeill's brief appearance in Nelson District Court this morning followed the issuing of an Australian arrest warrant. Norfolk Island is an Australian territory and Australian police are seeking McNeill's extradition.

He was not formally charged but an application to surrender -- which is first part of an extradition process -- has been filed.

McNeill's lawyer Gary Barkle requested a week's adjournment and said in light of media attention a name suppression order would be futile.

McNeill was a chef on Norfolk Island at the time 29-year-old Janelle Patton was found dead with 64 stab wounds to her body.

Ms Patton's body was found dumped at Cockpit Waterfall Reserve on Easter Sunday March 31, 2002.

She had suffered a fractured skull, broken pelvis and broken ankle.

Her murder was the first reported on the island for 148 years.

McNeill will reappear in court on February 7.

TIMELINE

March 31, 2002 - Sydney woman Janelle Patton, 29, working as a restaurant manager on Norfolk Island, is last seen going for a walk about 11.30am on Easter Sunday. Her body is found by tourists on the north side of the island at 6pm. She had been stabbed several times and her body partly wrapped in black plastic. It is the island's first murder since the departure of the convicts in 1855.

May, 2002 - More than 150 New Zealand and 550 Australian tourists who were holidaying on Norfolk Island on March 31 are sent questionnaires.

August, 2002 - Police start campaign in attempt to fingerprint all adult island residents.

March, 2003 - A$50,000 ($55,605) reward offered for information leading to the killer.

July, 2003 - Police seek fingerprints from tourists and temporary residents on the island at the time of Ms Patton's death.

March 18, 2004 - Reward increased to A$300,000 ($333,630).

May-June, 2004 - Police name 16 people as "persons of interest" in the murder investigation, including Ms Patton's parents.

June 3, 2004 - Coroner Ron Cahill delivers an open finding at an inquest into the murder.

July 19, 2004 - Senior government minister Ivens "Toon" Buffett is found shot dead in his parliamentary office, the second murder on the island. His 25-year-old son is charged with the killing.

September, 2005 - Australian Federal Police plan to fly to New Zealand to question a man in connection with the killing. The New Zealand man is identified only as a hospitality worker who lived on the island for about two years.

February 1, 2006 - A New Zealand man, 28, is arrested near Nelson after what police say is a DNA breakthrough.

February 2, 2006 - Glenn Peter Charles McNeill appears in Nelson District Court facing extradition to Norfolk Island. He is remanded in custody until February 7 but is not formally charged.

- NZPA