Gay Today: World

Australia:
Strangled -- A 29-Year-Old Gay Male

Brendan McGovern's Body Found Face Down

Compiled By GayToday

Sydney, Australia—Community alarms are ringing in force throughout this tolerant city where Brendan McGovern, a 29-year old accountant was found strangled and face down last Thursday, his lifeless form dumped barely a kilometer from his Hunters Hill home.

Schoolgirls discovered McGovern's body. The young man had spent Wednesday night in clubs on Oxford Street, the recent scene of Sydney's world-famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

McGovern's brother told reporters that the murdered man had recently said he'd felt happier with his life than ever before. "He was just a very calm, peaceful, private person… a normal bloke, who had lots of friends." Though the accountant was fully dressed when found, his automobile, a blue Mitsubishi Lancer sedan, and his bankcard and mobile phone were missing.

Police are not sure whether to call the killing a hate crime or a robbery "gone wrong". Detective Inspector Dave Cushway of Gladesville Police said: "At this stage ... we can't establish whether robbery was the motive or there was another motive for the murder…The information we have is that Mr. McGovern may have frequented Oxford St, Darlinghurst earlier that night.

"We are making an appeal to the general community and also members of the gay community that may have known Mr. McGovern and may have known his movements on that evening." Police are questioning patrons, workers and owners of Oxford Streets gay clubs. They are also searching for the murdered man's car which has tinted windows, mag wheels and personalized registration, BM 7755.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Sydney's Mardi Gras Parade: Monica & Kenny are Icons

Hostility: A Health Hazard

Sydney's Roman Catholic Church Outraged by Gay 'Nuns'

Australia: Tasmania Embraces Gay Students

Related Sites:
Sydney Anti-Violence Project
GayToday does not endorse related sites.

People with tips or information are being asked to contact Gladesville Police on 98799699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.