drive off in wa n pay ultimate price , page-2

Hey dhu read this....
Police have released the name of a Victorian man who was shot dead by a Western Australian police officer in the Pilbara yesterday.

Thirty-eight-year-old William John Watkins was stopped by a lone police officer near Karratha because he was suspected of stealing petrol from a roadhouse.

Mr Watkins was shot dead during a fight with the officer.

The officer, who was assaulted during the fight, is recovering in a Perth hospital.

Police say Mr Watkins was also wanted for questioning by Victorian police over the stabbing deaths of 21-year-old Laura Irwin and 23-year-old Colleen Irwin at the weekend.

It is understood the man was a neighbour of the sisters.

He is believed to have an extensive criminal record of burglaries, rapes, assaults on police and drug offences.

Superintendent Fred Zagami says the police officer was unaware Mr Watkins was wanted for questioning as Victorian police did not issue an alert until this morning.

"The homicide detectives over there may have delayed it for some reason. They may not have had sufficient information to say he was a person of interest," he said.

Western Australia's Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has visited the sergeant in hospital.

Commissioner O'Callaghan has refused to divulge the details of their discussion, except to say the officer was not aware the man was wanted for questioning.

Victorian police began looking for the man after he failed to turn up for work on Monday.

When WA officers searched the dead man's Victorian registered car yesterday, they found no luggage, suggesting he may have fled the state in haste.


Dave R.