A MAN has been charged with the murder of Dawesville teenager Jessie Cate.
Friends of Jessie attended court yesterday morning to see the man who allegedly had killed the popular teenager.
Kyle Rohan Garth, 19, appeared in Mandurah Magistrate’s Court dressed in a blue prison jumpsuit and was charged with one count of murder.
Garth, from Pinjarra, was not required to enter a plea and has been remanded in custody to appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrate’s Court on December 21.
The body of the 15-year-old girl was found buried in a shallow grave in bushland at Yalgorup Drive and Raywood Road in Bouvard in the early hours of Wednesday morning after she disappeared on Monday night.
Garth had been taken into custody at 7.45pm on Tuesday night and was charged with murder at 3am yesterday following several hours of questioning.
Garth told police he gave her a lift and dropped her at a park near her home.
Forensic and major crime officers cordoned off a large area of bushland in Bouvard, near Mandurah.
It is expected to remain cordoned off for some time.
It was reported that a red Nissan Bluebird, with a P-plate visible on the windscreen, was towed away from the scene by forensic police.
Detective Inspector Dave Bryson confirmed yesterday that Jessie’s body was found buried in bushland in Bouvard. Jessie left work about 6.30pm on Monday but failed to catch her usual 594 bus home from Old Coast Road, outside the Miami Shopping Centre.
Her mother raised the alarm about 9.30pm when her daughter was not on the last bus home that night.
Friends set up a Facebook page on the social networking site paying tribute to the teenager, with condolences flowing in for the teen’s family.
Jessie’s employer Woolworths issued a statement offering condolences to the teen’s family, friends and work colleagues.
A statement from Woolworths WA regional manager Brad Bolin said the company had made arrangements for staff at the Miami store to be offered counselling.
“Jessie had been working at the Miami store as a service cashier for just six weeks but she had made a lasting impression as a promising young woman,” the statement read.
“She will be greatly missed by her colleagues.
“Woolworths is helping the Western Australia Police with their enquiries.
“On behalf of Woolworth’s staff around the country and Western Australia, I extend my condolences to Jessie’s family, friends and loved ones.”
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Friends gathered at the Miami Plaza Shopping Centre to set up a Cate family fund and to mourn the loss of Jessie.
Close friends of Jessie, Clare Myhill and Kieana Copeland, said she was a beautiful, fun and friend- orientated person.
“I found out what had happened from Facebook and have been watching the news and listening to the radio all day to see if it was true,” Clare said.
“It’s just upsetting to think something like this has happened to her.”
A desk was set up in front of the Woolworths store for mourners to place flowers in respect of the young girl and a tin was placed at the reception for donations to the family.
“She loved kids and rabbits and other cuddly animals, she was kind and very loving,” Clare said.
A fund has been set up by Jessie’s friends to help pay for funeral costs.
The details are Commonwealth Bank, BSB 066-200, account number 1004 9163.
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