Murder charge after body found in burnt-out car

A man found naked and acting erratically on a boat north of Perth has been charged with murder after human remains were found in a burnt-out car.

Western Australian police arrested the 19-year-old after he drifted out to sea on the vessel and jumped into the ocean in the early hours of September 26.

He allegedly murdered a 38-year-old man some hours earlier after crashing his four-wheel drive near Cervantes, about 200km north of Perth.

Investigators found the dead man’s charred remains in the vehicle in bushland next to Indian Ocean Drive.

He had stopped at the site of the accident and an incident allegedly occurred between the two men which led to his death.

His red car was later found in the ocean.

The accused has been charged with murder, aggravated criminal damage by fire and stealing a motor vehicle.

He is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

– AAP