Michelle Morrissey stabbed dozens of times, court hears

By Clementine Cuneo and Edith Bevin From: The Daily Telegraph April 01, 2010 12:00AM

MURDERED Mudgee teenager Michelle Morrissey was allegedly stabbed "dozens and dozens" of times by a stranger in her home as she prepared to go to a party.

Police said that they had no indication the popular 19-year-old knew her alleged killer Luke John Cotterill, 18.

Cotterill, from Londonderry in Sydney's outer-west, appeared in Mudgee Local Court yesterday charged with Ms Morrissey's murder, which police allege occurred some time between 3pm and 6.30pm on Saturday.

Ms Morrissey was allegedly ironing clothes and preparing to dress for a party in Dubbo where she was to meet up with family members later that afternoon.

Police will allege that Cotterill entered her home and stabbed her in a frenzied attack.

Ms Morrissey's boyfriend Jake McGowan went to the Cox St house about 6.30pm looking for her after she failed to turn up in Dubbo and multiple calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.

He allegedly discovered her body on the rear steps of the home.

On Tuesday night, police arrested Cotterill at the Mudgee home of one of his relatives.

He was charged with her murder and appeared before Mudgee Local Court yesterday. Cotterill whimpered during his brief court appearance but did not apply for bail.

Registrar Tony Goodwin formally refused bail and remanded him to appear via audio-visual link before Bathurst Local Court today.

Although he is registered as living at Londonderry, police said Cotterill had family ties in Mudgee and he was known to spend time in the country town.

Outside the court, members of Cotterill's family said they had no idea about what is alleged to have happened. "I just want to say I feel very sorry for her (Ms Morrissey's) family, they don't have her anymore, but at least we still have Luke," a woman believed to be Cotterill's mother said.

Choking back tears, a group of Ms Morrissey's friends arrived at court carrying flowers and hugging each other for comfort.

"We're just here in support of her family, OK," a friend named Kayla said.

Homicide detective Inspector Russell Oxford said police had carried out an intense investigation of what was a tragic case.

"It's a tragic case and it's something that's really hit home to the people of Mudgee," Insp Oxford said.

From: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/michelle-morrissey-stabbed-dozens-of-times-court-hears/story-e6freuzi-1225848230622