NSW: Husband named as person of interest in woman's cliff death

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
NSW: Husband named as person of interest in woman's cliff death

SYDNEY, April 30 AAP - The husband of a woman who died after falling from a cliff face
during a camping trip in Sydney's south has been named as a person of significant interest
at an inquest into her death.

Janet Anne Campbell, 49, died on March 24, 2005 during an Easter camping trip in the
Royal National Park with her husband of six months, Desmond Campbell.

According to Mr Campbell's version of events, his wife disappeared shortly after 7pm
after leaving their tent, which had been set up near a cliff face, counsel assisting the
coroner Patrick Saidi told Glebe Coroners Court.

"He heard what he described as an `ahhh' sound," Mr Saidi said.

Mr Campbell had then looked for his wife, eventually finding her 40 metres down the
cliff on the rocks at water level.

The inquest was told police immediately began viewing the death as suspicious.

Mr Campbell, a former Victorian drug squad detective, had in the months before their
marriage in September 2004 denied he was in a relationship with Janet, the inquest was
told.

He had told a work colleague she was a "fat, ugly, dumb bitch" who was stalking him,
Mr Saidi said.

Mr Campbell, who resigned from Victoria police in 1994, has since said that planting
evidence and bashing suspects were commonplace among drug squad officers.

The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Jacqueline Milledge is continuing.

AAP la/sg/wjf/sp

KEYWORD: CAMPBELL

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