1st Aussie serviceman killed since Vietnam conflict

Officer’s body to be flown home

By staff writers

December 23, 2004



THE body of slain Australian policeman Adam Dunning will be flown back to his hometown of Canberra today following a memorial service at the headquarters of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).



The 26-year-old Australian Protective Service officer died after being shot in the back while on a routine vehicle patrol on the outskirts of the nation’s capital Honiara early yesterday.



His death has sparked an intense hunt by Solomon Islands police and RAMSI officers for Mr Dunning’s killer or killers. Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty flew to the Solomons from Canberra yesterday to attend a memorial service for Mr Dunning at the RAMSI headquarters outside Honiara.



“It’s mainly so the members here can have a little bit of closure and say goodbye to Adam,” Participating Police Force spokeswoman Delia Quigley said.



The casket containing Mr Dunning’s body will then be loaded onto an Australian government jet with full ceremonial honours for an early afternoon departure for Canberra with Senator Ellison and Mr Keelty on board.


“Mr. Adam Dunning was the first Australian serviceman killed by an opposing force since the Vietnam conflict. A testament to the rigorous training and thourough prefessionalism of not only Australian troops but also members of the police force. Long live the memory of the brave souls who fight to preserve peace, even far away from their homes, to make the world a better and fairer place for all. —- hitman”