this is shocking, page-85

hergerr shocking.perhaps true Here's that article

The denial (bold) is hardly unequivocal, is it???

Police deny Bulger killer link to Sofia
Email Print Normal font Large font June 28, 2006 - 5:42PM


Sofia ... "She was just a gorgeous little girl, and she will always be that now."


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AdvertisementPolice in Perth have been forced to deny that a man accused of murdering an eight-year-old schoolgirl is one of the killers of British boy James Bulger.

Dante Wyndham Arthurs, 21, of Canning Vale, was remanded in custody yesterday after appearing in Perth Magistrates Court charged with wilful murder, sexual penetration of a child and deprivation of liberty.

He was charged following the discovery on Monday of the body of Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia-Shu on the floor of a disabled toilet at Livingstone Market shopping centre in Canning Vale.

Since his arrest rumours have circulated, including that Arthurs was one of two 10-year-old boys convicted of abducting three-year-old James Bulger from a Liverpool shopping centre in 1993 and killing him near a canal.

West Australian police were today forced to issue a statement saying they were aware of the rumours but had failed to substantiate them.

"The rumours are speculative and without ground," WA Police Deputy Commissioner Chris Dawson said in a statement.

Mr Dawson said the overriding public interest was for the case against Arthurs to proceed unhindered, and he appealed to the media not to publish information which may prejudice a fair trial.

There was a public outcry in Britain in 2001 when the two killers of James Bulger, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, were released from prison and given new identities.

Details of their new names and locations have not been released, but the new rumours are believed to be based on speculation that one of the pair began a new life in Australia.


School shocked at loss of 'sweet' Sofia

Mater Christi Catholic Primary School parish priest Bryan Rosling said today Sofia was well behaved and well liked.

"She was just a gorgeous little girl, and she will always be that now," Father Rosling told journalists today.

"[She was] very sweet, very quiet, affectionate and much loved by everyone."

Sofia's family were still in shock, he said.

"They are very close and they are in torment.

"They are a wonderful Christian family with tremendous ideals.

"They are just a beautiful family who everyone, I think, could relate with."

Sofia's school, the Mater Christi Catholic Primary School in Yangebup, held prayer services for her in all the classrooms.

A school spokeswoman said a shrine for Sofia had been set up in the school grounds.

Counsellors were at the school yesterday and would be there again today to help Sofia's friends and classmates.

The mood at the school was "sombre", the spokeswoman said.

"Everyone is walking around in shock."

A 21-year-old man from the Canning Vale area has been charged with murder and sexual assault.

AAP