Backpacker's Murder at Lucy's Gully. Taranaki. New Zealand.
S 39° 08.940 E 173° 56.525
59H E 754247 N 5662565
A beautiful historic bush-covered gully in Egmont National Park named after Lucy Stevens (a.k.a. Ruhira Matekai) who was born in the Gully around 1820. In 2005 the beauty was marred by the horrible discovery of a hitchhikers body in Lucy's Gully.
Waymark Code: WM92CW
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 06/17/2010
Views: 5
A beautiful peaceful area known as Lucy's Gully is situated at the western end of the Kaitake Range. There is an air of sadness here since the battered body of a 28 year old German tourist was discovered dumped at this remote location, southwest of New Plymouth.
The stabbed and beaten body of BIRGIT BRAUER, was found by a jogger at Lucy's Gully, on Tuesday 20 September 2005. The murder of German backpacker Birgit Brauer almost five years ago shocked two nations: the manhunt for her killer lasted 18 days and ended as dramatically as it began.
The callousness of this murder touched everyone and police launched a murder investigation which quickly revealed the vehicle that Ms Brauer was last seen accepting a ride. It was sheer luck that on this particular day several sightings were recorded by Taranaki people, and these would later prove to be vital in a murder case....
Hunt for a Killer
Enough pieces of evidence were gathered to charge Michael Scott Wallace for the murder of German backpacker Birgit Brauer. See website listed below for more details. Michael Wallace was found guilty of Ms Brauer's murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
A memorial headstone for Birgit lies in the Awanui Cemetery in New Plymouth.