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- Jul 1, 2007
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http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=287506
From NINE MSN:
"A pet camel that killed a 60-year-old woman in Queensland's outback was a birthday present from her family, police say.
The woman's body was found on their sheep and cattle property near Mitchell, about 600 kilometres west of Brisbane, about 6.30pm (AEST) on Saturday.
Police said the camel had knocked her to the ground, stomped on her and then lain down on top of her.
They said the 10-month-old pet had a history of bizarre behaviour - it had attempted to suffocate the family's pet goat on numerous occasions.
Roma police Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Gregory said the victim's husband was "devastated".
"The camel was actually a 60th birthday present that he and his daughter got her in March," he said.
"She had a love of exotic pets."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the victim, who had yet to be formally identified, had been knocked over by the camel, which then "rolled around the ground a bit".
He said the woman had suffered "one definite footprint" on one side of her face and one on her arm.
"I'd say it's probably been playing or it may be even a sexual sort of thing, you wouldn't know," Det Snr Sgt Gregory said.
"It's either smothered her or brought on a (heart) turn."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the husband suspected something was amiss when he returned home to find the camel wandering around the backyard.
"She had tea on, and a cup of tea was in the kitchen," he said.
"She was just doing her afternoon chores of feeding all the other animals.
"She hadn't been there very long until he got home."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the animal had tried to smother other farm animals by sitting on them.
"It had a bit of a habit with a goat, knocking it over and sort of straddling it and laying on top of it," he said.
"It's been chased off the goat a few times."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the family had intended giving the woman a llama or an alpaca for her birthday, but decided they were too expensive.
"It (the camel) was only young and it had been hand reared," Det Snr Sgt Gregory said.
"It drinks out of a bottle and eats out of your hand."
A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out early this week."
From NINE MSN:
"A pet camel that killed a 60-year-old woman in Queensland's outback was a birthday present from her family, police say.
The woman's body was found on their sheep and cattle property near Mitchell, about 600 kilometres west of Brisbane, about 6.30pm (AEST) on Saturday.
Police said the camel had knocked her to the ground, stomped on her and then lain down on top of her.
They said the 10-month-old pet had a history of bizarre behaviour - it had attempted to suffocate the family's pet goat on numerous occasions.
Roma police Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Gregory said the victim's husband was "devastated".
"The camel was actually a 60th birthday present that he and his daughter got her in March," he said.
"She had a love of exotic pets."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the victim, who had yet to be formally identified, had been knocked over by the camel, which then "rolled around the ground a bit".
He said the woman had suffered "one definite footprint" on one side of her face and one on her arm.
"I'd say it's probably been playing or it may be even a sexual sort of thing, you wouldn't know," Det Snr Sgt Gregory said.
"It's either smothered her or brought on a (heart) turn."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the husband suspected something was amiss when he returned home to find the camel wandering around the backyard.
"She had tea on, and a cup of tea was in the kitchen," he said.
"She was just doing her afternoon chores of feeding all the other animals.
"She hadn't been there very long until he got home."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the animal had tried to smother other farm animals by sitting on them.
"It had a bit of a habit with a goat, knocking it over and sort of straddling it and laying on top of it," he said.
"It's been chased off the goat a few times."
Det Snr Sgt Gregory said the family had intended giving the woman a llama or an alpaca for her birthday, but decided they were too expensive.
"It (the camel) was only young and it had been hand reared," Det Snr Sgt Gregory said.
"It drinks out of a bottle and eats out of your hand."
A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out early this week."