Hobart marina death riddle
LINDA SMITH
October 01, 2008 12:00am
A MAN'S body has been found floating in the water at a Hobart sailing club and police have not ruled out foul play.
The body of the man, believed to be Hobart business and sailing identity Peter Irwin, was found near a boat at the Derwent Sailing Squadron on Marieville Esplanade at Sandy Bay just after 6am yesterday.
Police are treating the death of Mr Irwin, aged in his 50s, as suspicious.
He sustained injuries before he died and pools of blood were visible around the marina yesterday.
Detectives, uniformed police, forensic officers and divers were on site for about four hours yesterday trying to piece together Mr Irwin's last movements.
Dozens of small yellow markers mapped out the blood stains on the concrete.
They snaked from the sailing club's car park near the slipyard, out on to the concrete walkways of the marina towards the area where the yacht Zereba was moored.
Mr Irwin had been living on the red and white yacht and his body was found floating alongside the boat.
The owner of the boat has been notified.
Detective-Sergeant Rob Reardon of Hobart CIB said police were awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine how Mr Irwin died.
He said police were yet to determine how he was injured, and whether these injuries contributed to his death.
"We can't rule out that someone else was involved until we determine the cause of death," Det-Sgt Reardon said.
He said the man's body was found by another man, who lived on a boat at the marina, shortly after 6am.
Detectives thoroughly examined the boat and the marina yesterday, removing items of interest from the vessel.
The police boat Dauntless arrived with divers who searched for evidence underwater, but Det-Sgt Reardon said they failed to locate anything of significance.
Mr Irwin ran the Hobart Home Heating business for many years.
He was also president of the Tasmanian Wood Heating Association.
He was also affectionately known to many in the sailing community by the nickname "Precious".
Derwent Sailing Squadron manager Tony Nicholas said Mr Irwin was one of about four people who lived on boats at the marina, as it was good for the security of the site.
He said Mr Irwin had been living on the boat for about six months.
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,24429480-921,00.html |