A British and Australian couple accused in the killing of a police officer in Bali have taken part in a reconstruction at Kuta beach.
Sara Connor, from Byron Bay, and David Taylor, both dressed in orange prison outfits bearing the words “Denpasar police detainee”, arrived in two separate small armoured personnel carriers at about 5am escorted by dozens of police.
Signs with their names on them were hung around their necks. It was the first time the couple had seen each other in person since their arrest on 18 August.
Taylor and Connor have been formally named suspects over the death of Wayan Sudarsa and face charges including unpremeditated murder and assault. Both could each face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of murder.
As part of the reconstruction, the pair embraced and Taylor kissed Connor on the forehead as they stood by the edge of the water.
Later, Taylor was seen leaning down over the figure of a man representing Sudarsa and holding a broken beer bottle to his head.
At one point in the reconstruction, which was directed by police shouting through a megaphone, Taylor mimed how he had frisked Sudarsa.
Among the 40 “scenes” acted out by the pair was an alleged confrontation between Sudarsa and Taylor over Connor’s lost wallet. The men later fell on to the sand, Taylor kneeling over the top of Sudarsa.
As if she was standing in the wings of a play, Connor was then brought into the scene, to re-enact how she had tried to separate the pair.
The police officer playing Sudarsa mimed biting her on the thigh as she knelt next to him. Photographers and cameramen called from the sidelines asking police to move so they could get a clear shot. As the sun rose, the alleged confrontation between the pair escalated in eerie step-by-step silence.
“David fell and became involved in a fight with the victim,” a police officer directed as Taylor lay quietly on his back. “Victim and David hitting each other and struggling.
“David smashed the bottle to the back of victim’s head until it shattered.”
Ketut Arsini, Sudarsa’s wife, came to the beach but did not say anything and left quickly.
The final scenes took place at Denpasar police station.
As this unfolded, Connor and Taylor shared a quiet moment where he put his arms around her and she stroked his forearm.
They kissed before being separated again and taken back to their cells.
Crime reconstructions are regularly staged as part of police investigations in Indonesia.
Sudarsa’s body was found in the early hours of 16 August on Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot in southern Bali. Taylor and Connor were arrested two days later.
Australian Associated Press contributed to this story
