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SNOWING IN BALI

roadside dance was as accepted as gamelan music for being a part of Bali life.

After Kate’s parents called the British Honorary Consul in Bali, British and local police and Interpol, they were suddenly in a waking nightmare. It was not good news, as their worst fears were being confirmed by disturbing facts.

Kate had last been seen weeks earlier on Good Friday night. Her maid had seen her leave home at 10.30 pm dressed up to party. She’d gone to the Woodstock Bar in Legian, drunk beers – in good spirits, according to the barman – and then given a Dutch friend a lift home at 2 am.

A week later her rented Daihatsu jeep was found abandoned in the car park at Denpasar International Airport with doors locked, keys in the ignition and a flat tyre. But there was no record of her flying out. Her beloved dog Maisie had been abandoned without food or care arrangements; her two bank accounts had been untouched; no activity was recorded on her email accounts and her passport and purse were missing.

Kate’s parents set up a website and held a press conference in England. Their story was every parent’s worst nightmare and it instantly created global headlines.

The parents of a British graphic designer who went missing in Bali nearly six weeks ago spoke yesterday of their fears that she may have been kidnapped or murdered. Yesterday her mother told a press conference: ‘We are staying strong. We have to believe that Kate is somehow going to turn up. If someone has kidnapped her then I would say, “Please, for god’s sake, return her safely to us. Get in touch.” I pray every day for her safekeeping.’

– Telegraph, UK, 4 June 2003

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