SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- A man has been charged in the brutal rape of a 91-year-old woman, a crime that caused police to conduct DNA tests on almost every male in the small Australian town of Wee Waa.
In a brief court appearance Tuesday, Stephen James Boney, 44, did not enter a plea and was ordered to remain in custody until a further hearing May 15.Police refused to say whether Boney was one of more than 600 adult men from the town in New South Wales state who 10 days ago volunteered to give saliva samples for DNA testing.
However, prosecutor Brian Willis told the court that a further DNA test was conducted using a swab taken from Boney after his arrest. Police said Boney turned himself in Monday and was charged after being questioned for six hours.
Police allege Boney, a farm laborer, broke into the home of Rita Knight and raped her in the early hours of New Year's Day 1999. Rape carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
This was Australia's first mass DNA screening.