Australia’s most wanted fugitive captured
SYDNEY (AFP) — Australia’s most wanted fugitive – a survival expert and suspected murderer who outwitted police for seven years by living in rugged forest – was finally captured in a remote cabin yesterday.
Malcolm Naden, whose ability to evade police evoked comparisons to famous 19th century Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, had been on the run since disappearing in June 2005 from his grandparents’ home.
He went missing days before motherof- two Kristy Scholes, 24, was found strangled in his bedroom and was also wanted for questioning over the indecent assault of a 15-year-old girl and the disappearance of his 24-year-old cousin.
The 38- year- old was charged with Scholes’ murder, two counts of aggravated indecent assault on the teenage girl and the attempted killing of a police officer when he appeared in court.
“He’s in reasonable health but he’s very tired,” his lawyer Michael Jones said after Naden was refused bail and the case adjourned until April 24.
“He’s got serious bite marks on both legs inflicted by police dogs at the time of his arrest. Other than that, that’s all I can say.”
Naden was arrested just after midnight when officers swooped on a private property near Gloucester in the hinterland of New South Wales state’s north coast following a tip that he was there. No shots were fired in the raid.
“I am very pleased to be able to confirm for you today that Australia’s most wanted man is behind bars,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters.
Assistant Commissioner Carlene York, the commander of the strike force set up to capture him, said she never doubted the operation would succeed.
“Our people were operating in extremely difficult conditions and we had to adapt our strategies along the way,” York said as pictures showed Naden with a shaved head, wild beard, shackled, handcuffed and covered in mud.
“However, we always understood that every day brought us closer and that our tactics would prevail.”
Naden previously worked as a shearer, skinner and boner in an abattoir and has been described as a “master bushman” with an intimate knowledge of the rugged terrain in which he was hiding.