AUSTRALIAN police are investigating claims that officers failed to respond to reports of a woman's screams on the night York backpacker Caroline Stuttle was murdered.

The 19-year-old's body was found beneath the Burnett Bridge in Bundaberg, north of Brisbane, on April 10.

It is believed she either fell or was pushed over the parapet during a robbery on her way to telephone her boyfriend back in the UK.

A man has been arrested, questioned and released by detectives investigating her death.

Yesterday, Queensland's state newspaper, The Sunday Mail, reported that a woman driving across the bridge heard a scream and spotted a man peering over the railings at about 9.30pm - the time detectives believe Caroline was killed.

It is reported the witness stopped at a telephone box and called the police a few minutes later. However, although a number of patrols were on duty that night, the newspaper claims none was asked to investigate.

It was only when Caroline's friend, Sarah Holiday, reported her missing that a search began three-quarters of an hour later. Caroline's body was then found 65ft below the bridge shortly before midnight.

A post mortem examination showed Caroline died from head and spinal injuries consistent with a fall.

As some of her property was missing, police have concluded she was robbed shortly before she died.

Last night, Queensland Police confirmed normal procedure would have been to log the call from the witness, advise a duty sergeant and send a patrol to investigate the claims.

Commissioner Bob Atkinson has pledged "a thorough investigation" into what happened.

But he added: "It is important not to pre-empt or pre-judge the outcome of the internal investigation or compromise the investigation into the murder of Caroline Stuttle."

Yesterday, feelings were running high in Bundaberg, which has been shocked by the killing.

"Why didn't the police do something?" asked Denise Symons, who lives near the murder scene. "She may not have still been alive but at least they may have caught her killer."