Facebook meeting ends in gruesome murder

Melbourne, June 7: A talented young Brisbane artist who agreed to meet up with an ex-boyfriend through a Facebook message was found brutally murdered in her flat this week. 'West End artist Sarah Elston, 22, was looking forward to catching up with her former flame who contacted her on the popular social networking website. But, in a shocking turn of events, her "mutilated" body was found on June 3 in her West End unit after police were called to a disturbance at 11pm.

According to friends, Sarah was "happy and excited" about seeing her former boyfriend again after he got in touch with her on the Internet. "She hadn't seen him in a long time but then he contacted her via Facebook," News.com.au quoted friend Danae Walker, as saying. Sarah had suffered multiple injuries and police immediately launched a murder investigation. On June 4, a 28-year-old Bowen Hills man was arrested and charged with the murder.

The accused made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to reappear in court next month. The creative West End community is shocked over Sarah's gruesome murder. "I just keep hoping Sarah will run around the corner with a big smile on her face and say 'this is a big joke,'" Walker said. About a dozen of Sarah's friends gathered outside West End bar the Rumpus Room on June 6 to remember her.

ANI