Watler convicted of murdering Duffell on DNA alone
(CNS): Lindsay Kirk Watler (55) was found guilty of murder on Wednesday by a jury of nine women and three men following a two-week trial. Watler had denied killing George Ian Duffell (51) and continued to do so as the jury read out their verdict when he said, “I didn’t do it.” Duffell was murdered on the night of 14 October during a confrontation in West Bay. The crown’s case was based purely on DNA evidence found under Duffell’s fingernails, with no other evidence or motive to support it.
Duffell sustained multiple injuries, including a deep injury to the left side of his neck and a severe wound to the lower right chest, both of which would have been fatal. The DNA taken from under Duffell’s nails was 420 trillion times more likely to have come from Watler than anyone else. Duffell also had injuries to his hands, indicating he had tried to defend himself from the attack.
In addition to Duffell’s own DNA and Watler’s, the DNA of a third unidentified person had also contributed to the samples. No motive has ever been offered for the killing, and Watler has consistently denied being the murderer. However, he gave inconsistent evidence to the police and lied about his whereabouts on the night of the murder. Watler also was unable to offer any explanation for how his DNA was under Duffell’s nails.
According to the prosecution’s case, Duffell was walking home from Kelly’s Bar when a man confronted him along Swallow Road and pursued him. A police constable had allegedly identified Duffell as the man being chased but could not identify the attacker. The pursuit ended in an altercation in a nearby yard, where Duffel was killed.
Following the verdict, Watler was remanded in custody until March, when he will return to court for a sentencing hearing. Although Watler is facing a statutory life term of imprisonment of around 30 years, the court has the discretion to reduce or increase the tariff depending on the circumstances of the crime and the offender.
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Lets be honest now since it came to this police only caught him because someone told them exactly who did it not because they worked. Secondly on th real duffel went kellys nd anyone who knows know bare trouble and mouth but jah know he made a mistake that caused him his life. Dont judge me palico king is my dawg. Life just caught him and now the right man in jail life played its cards. All wa gwan he didnt have to kill the man, duffel boxed him and because he not physical like duffel dis dickhead pull his knife and start feel deal with him jah know all when duffel begging this man yah still over him stabbing the dawg broo he could have really mash him up but dnt kill him duffel didnt even have a weapon. So theres it duffel being duffel boxed him with his hands if u dnt get me and this man kill him for it not only killed ran him down over 500 meters or so
There is no escaping justice. Karma is a real ferocious bitch.
If you don’t want bad things happening to you, don’t do bad things to others.
There really is no escape.
We are totally accountable for our actions.
I wish I had better news, but I don’t.
I never knew Duffell but he was some mother’s son. RIP. However, I know Kirk Watler. I knew him when he was service manager at Advance Auto, a productive member of society. Unfortunately alcohol and drugs brought him to this.
Sad.
I’m not familiar with this gentleman, but I’d bet he was well known to the police way before this incident.
Having a beef, or whatever caused this, into your 50s, for the love of God, these men have the emotional intelligence of toddlers.
9:39, if you think “these men have the emotional intelligence of toddlers” in their 50s, can you imagine what it was like for those of us teachers having to deal with them in primary middle and high school?
I’m a teacher. I know exactly what it’s like. Let’s just say we can expect this for the next generation or two, as well. I’ll even go out on a limb and say ad infinitum.
Don’t insult toddlers.