Bali murder charge: Policeman cremated amid claims Australian woman was 'held down' by officer.

A British man charged with the murder of a Balinese policeman says the officer held his Australian partner down in the sand on the night of his death, his lawyer says.

Wayan Sudarsa was found in the early hours of Wednesday on Kuta Beach with more than 40 wounds police said may have been caused by a broken beer bottle.

Connor, a 45-year-old mother of two from Byron Bay, and Briton David Taylor have been charged with murder, assault causing death and group assault after being questioned on Saturday.

Taylor’s lawyer Haposan Sihombing said his client told police that Mr Sudarsa had held Connor down in the sand and that she had screamed, attracting passersby who came to her aid.

He said the pair denied killing Mr Sudarsa.

This morning a long line of police officers were among mourners gathered outside Mr Sudarsa’s home ahead of a traditional Hindu cremation ceremony.

Draped in the Indonesian flag, Mr Sudarsa’s coffin was carried on the shoulders of officers as hundreds of people gathered, including family members, friends from the community and colleagues of Mr Sudarsa.

His son told the ABC that his father died doing his duty.

Byron Bay ‘heartbroken’ over charges.

In a statement, the family of Connor said their thoughts and love are with their daughter, adding that the Byron Bay community was “heartbroken” over reports she had been named a suspect.

“Our thoughts, hearts and love go out to Sara as she deals with this thoroughly tragic incident.”

The statement said the community “to whom she has given so much” is offering all it can in return.

“Our hearts go out to Sara and her family and we will do all we can to help her through this very difficult time.”
Denpasar Police Chief Hadi Purnomo told the ABC some of the suspects’ statements did not match during initial interrogations, but both admitted to being at the scene of the crime on the morning of the policeman’s death.

He said witnesses had seen the suspects wrestling with one another.

He also said police were looking for clothes the suspects were wearing that morning.

A motorbike taxi driver whom police called back to the scene on Saturday night told them a woman with blood on her clothes had asked to be taken to a police station but he refused.

Suspect had bite mark on her leg, lawyer says.

Connor is being represented by lawyer Erwin Siregar, who also represented Australian Schapelle Corby.

He said Connor had signed a document enabling police to detain her for the next 20 days while investigations continued.

That time can be extended by police to up to 100 days.

Mr Siregar said Connor had arrived in Bali on Tuesday and Taylor met her at the airport, where they bought beer before returning to the man’s homestay.

“Then they are going to the restaurant, she drank a beer, and then they are going to the beach with two beer bottles, one each,” he said.

Mr Siregar said the man and woman had been kissing on the beach after arriving at 11:00pm and leaving about 3:00am.

The murder charge carries a maximum of 15 years in jail.

This post originally appeared on ABC News.