Burrell Explains The Pressure While Police Widen Search

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday June 11, 1997

By GREG BEARUP

As dozens of officers gathered at Goulburn Police Station yesterday morning, an old grey Falcon sedan pulled into Mick and Joe's Discount Tyres just across the street.

A convoy of 18 police vehicles then set off for a search of the national park surrounding Bruce Burrell's Bungonia property.

Bruce Burrell stepped from the Falcon to be picked up by a friend. The brakes on his vehicle needed fixing and he was off to visit an aunt while he waited, he said.

For the past three weeks, Mr Burrell has been living with a frequent police presence. His 192-hectare farm was searched for five days and he then appeared in Goulburn Court to face theft and firearm charges.

Yesterday the Dog Squad, Polair and the specially trained search police investigating the abduction of Mrs Kerry Whelan began the search, which is taking place in a much larger area 15 kilometres south and 35 minutes drive through rugged gulf country behind Mr Burrell's farm.

The chief of Operation Bell aire, Inspector Mick Howe, yesterday described Mr Burrell only as "a person of interest to us". Police have not identified him as a suspect.

At 9.50 am the police arrived at Bungonia and about the same time the mechanics at Mick and Joe's lowered the Falcon from the hoist and Mr Burrell returned.

He took his Falcon for a spin with a mechanic and then dropped the mechanic back. He then went for a drive around Goulburn, first to the Tattersals Hotel bottle shop, then to the Empire Cellars, where he bought a carton of beer.

He refuelled his vehicle at the Woolworths Plus Petrol and headed for home.

Two unmarked vehicles followed for a distance but stopped on the edge of town. More unmarked cars were parked near the Bungonia turnoff from the Hume Highway.

At 11.20 am he stopped at his front gate and checked for mail.

Yesterday, the Herald spoke to him briefly. You must be under intense pressure, Mr Burrell?

"You could say that, yes."

© 1997 Sydney Morning Herald

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