National
Prisoner accused of breaking out of jail charged with WA woman’s murder
A WA prisoner accused of breaking out of jail has been charged with murder.
Police say the body of a Kununurra mother was discovered just days before the 27-year-old jumped a fence to freedom.
They allege Warrick Walkerbear murdered the 31-year-old woman – before dumping her body in bushland.
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The 27-year-old was being held at Broome Prison, where he is accused of jumping the fence last Tuesday, sparking a statewide manhunt.
A 24-hour roadblock was set up on the outskirts of town amid fears he was travelling to Derby.
Mr Walkerbear was arrested three days later at a property 2km away.
He is now back behind bars, facing charges of murder and escaping custody.
The woman was last seen alive on the evening of Saturday, October 9.
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Her body was discovered 15 days after she went missing.
Kununurra, a town of 5300 people in far northern WA, sits in the eastern edges of the Kimberley, 45km from the border with the Northern Territory.
Mr Walkerbear was expected to appear in the Kununurra Magistrates Court via video link today.
The woman is not being named for cultural reasons.
