Mr Weissensteiner was arrested by the Australian Federal Police in Papua New Guinea, when he was accused of murdering Mr Hartwig Bayeral & Ms Susan Jack, a young couple who were last seen in the company of the Accused.

Mr Bayeral & Ms Jack had departed Australia with Mr Weissensteiner on a private boat. The couple where never seen again. Mr Weissensteiner was not initially a suspect, and his subsequent arrest was made on circumstantial grounds.