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Bali police are delaying the return of the bodies of an Australian mother and daughter who died at the weekend because they are yet to rule out criminal activity.

Darwin doctor warns delays could make autopsy harder

A doctor from Sanglah Hospital says the early indications are that poisoning from food or intoxication from drugs are the most likely causes of death but it is too early to tell without an autopsy.

He says the hospital can not allow the bodies to be released or returned to Australia until police provide a written request from the family.

But a Darwin doctor has warned that delays in performing an autopsy could mean the cause of death will remain a mystery.

Dr Malcolm Johnson-Leek from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in Darwin said bringing the bodies home to Queensland for an autopsy could make it harder to determine the cause of death.

"The longer the time before the actual autopsy is done and samples taken, the less likely you are to pick up low levels of various toxic agents," Dr Johnson-Leek told ABC Local Radio.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-08/bali-police-delay-return-of-bischoff-bodies/5191148