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Police probe outback siege aftermath

Posted July 10, 2009 06:13:00
Updated July 10, 2009 08:58:00

SA homestead where siege took place

Siege: The remote homestead where the gunman died (ABC)

Police investigations will continue in outback South Australia this morning, after a heavily-armed man suspected of stabbing a police officer and assaulting a hostage was found dead at a property near Yunta.

The siege near Peterborough, in South Australia's north-east pastoral country, ended at 7.30pm yesterday (local time) when police entered the house and found the man dead.

Police have confirmed the incident is now subject to a Commissioner's inquiry.

They believe the 32-year-old died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The drama began yesterday morning when the man stabbed an officer before stealing his patrol car and hitting a pedestrian.

He then assaulted an elderly woman he took hostage at a nearby property.

She was able to escape and alert police.

Her brother-in-law says she went been through a horrible ordeal.

"She said that he put a towel over her head and she said that she could hardly breathe," he said.

The man's body was discovered when police were able to enter the property later that evening.

All three victims were in a stable condition last night.

Tags: law-crime-and-justice, crime, police, assault, sa, yunta-5440

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