One of Australia's most wanted men, Malcolm Naden, has been captured in bushland north of Sydney after nearly seven years on the run. The 38-year-old former abattoir worker was caught when 20 specialist police officers surrounded a property near Gloucester, 200 miles north of Sydney, in a midnight raid. He was bitten by a police dog and taken to hospital before appearing in court.
Naden had been charged with the murder of his cousin, 24-year-old Kirsty Scholes, in 2005 and two counts of aggravated indecent assault of a 15-year-old girl in 2004. His ability to elude police had become something of an embarrassment. He was nearly caught last December, when dozens of police moved in on a campsite near Tamworth, but escaped after shooting a police officer.
Police described Naden as a 'master bushman'. He is believed to have survived by living off the land and raiding remote properties for food and supplies. At one point he was reported to have been living in a zoo enclosure. Police say he is in good health despite his time in the bush.
New South Wales state premier Barry O'Farrell congratulated officers on the capture. 'Sure he wasn't arrested as soon as people would like. Sure there were critics out there saying it had been messed up, but here we have a result,' he said.
Locals spoke of relief that he had finally been caught. Lyn Steghs, who lives near where Naden was captured, told the ABC her home had been broken into several times. However, not everyone is delighted; Gary Daley, publican at the Avon Valley Inn, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Naden's presence had boosted business, with beer sales up by 20% due to police officers dropping in after work.
