Murder investigation into Aussie's death in Bali Autopsy shows tourist death was asphyxiation Man originally believed to have died in motorbike crash Police open a murder investigation into the case INDONESIAN police have opened a murder investigation into the death of an Australian man found on the side of a road in Bali last week. It was initially thought Mark Ovenden, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, may have died after falling from his motorcycle. But an autopsy carried out by forensic specialists at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar has revealed the primary cause of death was asphyxiation. It has also been revealed that there was evidence of blunt force trauma on Mr Ovenden's head and neck. The 34-year-old's body was found last Thursday morning on the side of a road in Nusa Dua, about 45 minutes drive from Bali's international airport. His wallet and watch were still on his person, which had led police to initially believe his death was an accident. The autopsy found evidence of several blunt force traumas on the face, head, neck and chest. The cause of death is asphyxiation caused by strong pressure on the neck," Sanglah Hospital forensic department chief Dr Dudut Rustyadi said. It could be the result of strong pressure applied with a wooden stick or some other hard object. But it certainly is not caused by strangulation, because we didn't find circular blunt trauma around the neck," he added. The police estimated that he had been dead for 24 hours before his body was found.