THE family of Dominic Chappell, one of three kidnap victims missing since April, last week published an ''In Memoriam'' notice in the British press.
The notice which appeared in The Independent newspaper on Chappell's birthday, August 10, read: ''Chappell: Dominic Simon James, born 10 August 1969, kidnapped, presumed murdered in Cambodia.'' In an interview on British television the same day, Chappell's photographer father, David, from Hong Kong, and British-based sister Gabrielle, admitted they had all but resigned themselves to the fact that he was dead.
Chappell was kidnapped with his Australian girlfriend, Kellie Wilkinson, 24, and Tina Dominy, 24, a fellow Briton, as they travelled from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh.
Scotland Yard is currently examining evidence retrieved from Cambodia which suggests that the trio may have been murdered. Cambodian police believe that the three were almost certainly murdered in mid-June, shortly after negotiations for their release broke down.