David James Taylor - JP/Zul Trio Anggono

A romantic vacation in Bali turned very ugly after Briton David James Taylor and his Australian girlfriend Sara Connor allegedly killed a police officer on a Kuta beach last Tuesday.

Despite previously denying any involvement Taylor was reported to have confessed during interrogation on Monday that he beat First Adj. Insp. Wayan Sudarsa with a bottle during an altercation. He claimed that he thought the policeman had stolen Connor’s bag.

“The motive was a misunderstanding. Because Sara’s bag was missing they accused the police officer of stealing it,” Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. Hadi Purnomo, told reporters on Tuesday.

During 12 hours’ questioning of Taylor and nine hours’ separate questioning of Connor the suspects are believed to have told the police everything that happened on the night leading up to Sudarsa being found dead on the beach.

Taylor and Connor, both residents of Australia, were on holiday in Bali and enjoying the beach when the incident occurred.

Based on their statements, Connor realized that she had lost her bag, which she had left on the beach while spending some time with Taylor nearby.

The couple believed that the police officer had stolen the bag and they confronted him.

Taylor also accused Sudarsa of merely pretending to be a police officer. At that point the fracas began, in the course of which Taylor beat the victim about the head with a large beer bottle. He also used a mobile phone and binoculars to hit Sudarsa.

Hadi said that Connor also got involved in the altercation.

“She also fought. Sara pulled the victim, and the victim also pulled Sara’s hair,” he said.

After the fight, the couple searched the victim’s body to find the bag. They found only the victim’s wallet and mobile phone. It was not clear why they then took his wallet.

The couple left the scene and tried to escape by moving from their homestay in Kubu Kauh Beach Inn in Kuta, to a homestay in Jimbaran.

The couple allegedly attempted to eliminate evidence. “They burned the clothes they wore that night, which were bloodstained,” Hadi said, adding that during questioning both suspects expressed their remorse for what happened that night.

“They said they were sorry for what they did as a result of Sara losing her bag,” Hadi said.

Hadi said the couple would be charged under the Criminal Code on murder and assault. If found guilty, they could face 15 years’ imprisonment.

Connor will also face charges of aiding and abetting a crime.

“Sara was also involved in the murder as there was also fighting between the victim and Sara. She pulled the victim’s hair. The victim also pulled Sara’s hair,” Hadi said.

Connor’s lawyer, Robert Khuana said his client had conveyed her remorse in the case. Robert said Connor had only tried to separate the victim from Taylor when they were fighting by pulling the victim.

Meanwhile, Taylor’s lawyer Haposan Sihombing said both suspects realized that they were wanted by the police two days after the incident, when Connor’s friend in Australia made a phone call and told them.

“After Sara received a phone call, they decided to go to burn the clothes they wore that night. They burned them somewhere in an empty space in Jimbaran. They then went to the Australian Consulate to ask for protection. But police were already there and arrested them,” Haposan said.

Taylor and Connor were arrested at the Australian Consulate on Friday. The couple initially denied any involvement in the killing.

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