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Scot murdered as he tried to defend girlfriend in fight(Daily Mail Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)A SCOTS tourist was stabbed to death in an Australian campsite while trying to defend his girlfriend from an attack by another holidaymaker. Rudi Boa and his girlfriend Gillian Brown had left behind their life together in Scotland for a round-the-world trip. They met another British traveller, 31-year-old Alexander York, while camping in the picturesque Snowy Mountains area of New South Wales. Police say the two men were drinking together when an argument broke out around 11.30pm on Friday. They believe York followed Miss Brown back to her tent and attacked her. Then, as 28-yearold Mr Boa stepped in, he pulled out a knife and stabbed him. Mr Boa died with Miss Brown, 29, at his side. York appeared in court accused of murder yesterday, as grieving members of Mr Boa's family flew out to Australia. Mr Boa, a former pupil of Culloden Academy, Inverness, graduated from Edinburgh's Napier University with a degree in forensic science. He gave up a job at a hospital in Edinburgh to go travelling with Miss Brown, from Nairn, Inverness-shire. Having travelled in Asia, the pair arrived in Australia on a working visa and were picking fruit in New South Wales. They were staying at the Blowering Holiday Park in the shadow of the Snowy Mountains when they met York. A family friend said Mr Boa and Miss Brown had been drinking with York, from Essex, in the caravan park where they were staying. The friend added: 'There was a row and apparently this guy followed Rudi's girlfriend back to her tent and attacked her. She slapped him and Rudi went to her rescue.' Mr Boa's father Richard, a joiner, has flown to Australia to bring his son's body home. His mother, Elizabeth, is with relatives and is said to be 'devastated'. Miss Brown's father died several years ago and Ken Thomas, the partner of her mother, Jenny, accompanied Mr Boa's father on the flight to Australia on Saturday. Mr Boa's uncle, William Chisholm, said, because of the time difference, the tragic news of his murder came in a call around midnight on Friday, only a few hours after the family had met for a Burn's Supper. Mr Chisholm said: 'It's so sad. We thought it would be more dangerous for them when they were in Asia and they would be safe once they reached Australia. 'Rudi was working in Edinburgh but, like so many young people these days, he wanted to travel.' A neighbour of the family in Culloden said: 'You won't find anyone who will have a bad word to say about Rudi. His mum is in pieces. She's devastated.' A death notice in a local newspaper describes Rudi as a 'beloved son' and a 'dear nephew and cousin'. York, who had been at the camp since December 27, was remanded in custody when he appeared in court yesterday in the small town of Tumut, which is 250 miles south-west of Sydney and has a population of 13,000. A police spokesman said later: 'It appears the basic problem has been alcohol.' Jan Biddle, owner of the caravan park, said last night that York, who was known at the park as Alex, had been drinking since early morning. She added: 'He has not caused any trouble at the park before. He would often meet up with Rudi and Gillian for a drink after fruit picking. 'They went drinking at a hotel and something happened after they came back to their tents. 'I'm so terribly sorry for the three families involved. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to them.' A spokesman for New South Wales Police said Mr Boa suffered stab wounds and died at the scene. |