18 Jan 2013

Man charged in WA head case

7:54 am on 18 January 2013

Police in West Australia have charged a man with the murder of a convicted drug trafficker whose head was found in a bag.

Detectives arrested, questioned and released a man on Wednesday night.

AAP reports police are still searching for the rest of the body of Stephen Cookson, a convicted drug trafficker. The head was found wrapped in plastic on Rotnest Island off Perth on 6 January.

The ABC reports Police believe Cookson, 56, was killed at his rented apartment in East Perth and his body may have been dismembered at a property in Golden Bay, south of Perth.

Forensic officers have spent several days at both locations.

On Thursday night a man from Guildford was charged with murder. He will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.