'God and the angels' saved us, says woman allegedly kidnapped with daughter and grandsons
A woman who was allegedly kidnapped along with her daughter and grandsons by her daughter’s ex-partner has declared “God and the angels” helped them survive the ordeal.
The 44-year-old man accused of leading the kidnapping of his former partner, her teenage sons and their grandmother has been ordered to appear before a NSW court alongside his own son and another co-accused.
He was not brought up from the holding cells at Parramatta local court when his matter was heard on Thursday. His lawyer did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
The 44-year-old was ordered to appear before Parkes local court on 17 December along with his two co-accused, aged 23 and 29.
The three have been charged with a string of offences, including destroying a building by fire with intent to murder.
Detectives say the armed trio went to a home in Ootha, near Condobolin, early on Tuesday morning and assaulted a 68-year-old man and knocked him unconscious. It’s alleged the victim was struck on the head with a shotgun and left with a serious injury.
He was bound and left in a back room of the house while two of the attackers poured about 20 litres of petrol throughout the house before setting it alight, NSW police say.
The elderly man was falling in and out of consciousness before he broke free and raised the alarm with a neighbour, after being unable to find his 71year-old partner, her 41-year-old daughter and two grandsons aged 13 and 14.
The 71-year-old woman said her partner “must have one of the thickest heads”.
Following a huge manhunt, the 71year-old woman and the teenage boys managed to escape on Tuesday evening, when the 23- and 29-year-old men were arrested near Sackville, north-
west of Sydney.
Four hours later the 44-year-old man was arrested north of Windsor and his ex-partner was reunited with her family, detectives say.
“Her actions obviously helped to save us and to help the boys and I escape,” the 71-year-old woman said on Thursday. “She deserves a medal for that. She was absolutely incredible. “We’ve got a lot of recovering to do. “I thank everyone who assisted in us being able to get away and for my daughter to be safely returned to us.
God and the angels were there.”