Pig hunter finds fugitive's Barrington Tops hideout
BY DAN PROUDMAN CHIEF POLICE REPORTER
11 Oct, 2010 04:00 AM
THE five-year hunt for fugitive Malcolm Naden has been given its biggest break after a pig hunter stumbled across one of the murder suspect's bush lairs deep in the Barrington Tops.
Homicide squad detectives travelled to a nearby property yesterday believing this to be the best lead in the chase for the state's most wanted man since he evaded police at Dubbo in 2005.
Naden is wanted in connection with the disappearance of his cousin Lateesha Nolan in January 2005 and the death of another cousin's partner, Kristy Scholes, in August that same year.
Police have refused to publicly confirm their suspicions that Naden has been living in the Barrington Tops for several years despite growing evidence of burglaries boasting his hallmarks.
Thursday's discovery of the crude, but effective, campsite on top of a rugged hill is more proof that Naden, an expert bushman, is living the life of a nomad across vast distances of wilderness between the Barringtons and Kempsey.
The experienced pig hunter, who spoke to the Newcastle Herald on condition of anonymity, said he was convinced the campsite was the work of Naden because of its remote location, the amount of work that had been put into making it and some other evidence discovered at the scene.
The Herald is aware of the campsite's location but has agreed not to reveal it or certain aspects of the campsite for police operational reasons.
"If he has been up there for five years I wouldn't put it past him to have more than 50 of these types of campsites," the pig hunter told the Herald.
What can be revealed is that Naden had chosen a place atop a hill, giving himself the maximum amount of sunlight for warmth as well as allowing him to keep a lookout.
He has used a large number of dead trees to build wind breaks to shelter him from icy conditions and has kept well away from water courses to hide the camp from the majority of visitors.
"It is so remote up there you can hear people coming from more than a kilometre away," the pig hunter said.
"He would hear them, he would see them and he would smell them miles away.
"And although the higher you get the colder it gets, you also maximise the amount of sunlight and that means warmth - and trust me, she gets cold up there."
There was no sign of a fire at the campsite, but its evidence could have been buried.
The pig hunter said there was no shortage of food and water for Naden to keep himself going, with wallabies and kangaroos "so thick up there you almost trip over them".
"I would be very surprised if he does get caught," he said.
"He has got to be terribly unlucky and the cops have got to be terribly lucky to find him.
"But it is not out of the question for him to be bitten by a snake and die up there."
The pig hunter believed that Naden would be getting some form of outside assistance but that he would still be suffering without constant social interaction.
"To live five years on your own with no contact from anyone he must be mentally unstable, it would do your head in," he said.
A nearby landholder told the Herald he could understand why the hunt had been so difficult for police.
"It is my belief that for the police to be successful that they need specially trained officers in bush skills who are capable of being self-sufficient in the bush for weeks at a time," the landholder said.
"It may be that the police consult with people like the pig hunter who have these skills.
"I believe it is in everyone's best interests if this wanted person would face the police investigation so that the stress and anxiety caused to landowners in the area might be resolved."
He would hear them, he would see them and he would smell them miles away.
"And although the higher you get the colder it gets, you also maximise the amount of sunlight and that means warmth - and trust me, she gets cold up there."
There was no sign of a fire at the campsite, but its evidence could have been buried.
The pig hunter said there was no shortage of food and water for Naden to keep himself going, with wallabies and kangaroos "so thick up there you almost trip over them".
"I would be very surprised if he does get caught," he said.
"He has got to be terribly unlucky and the cops have got to be terribly lucky to find him.
"But it is not out of the question for him to be bitten by a snake and die up there."
The pig hunter believed that Naden would be getting some form of outside assistance but that he would still be suffering without constant social interaction.
"To live five years on your own with no contact from anyone he must be mentally unstable, it would do your head in," he said.
A nearby landholder told the Herald he could understand why the hunt had been so difficult for police.
"It is my belief that for the police to be successful that they need specially trained officers in bush skills who are capable of being self-sufficient in the bush for weeks at a time," the landholder said.
"It may be that the police consult with people like the pig hunter who have these skills.
"I believe it is in everyone's best interests if this wanted person would face the police investigation so that the stress and anxiety caused to landowners in the area might be resolved."
Information can be forwarded to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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RELATED COVERAGE
01 Sep 10:
Danger at the Tops: Break ins point to fugitive
28 Aug 10:
Is Barrington Tops hiding state's most wanted man?
03 Sep 10:
Father's plea: Track down alleged killer
10 Sep 10:
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07 Sep 10:
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Information can be forwarded to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Page:
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RELATED COVERAGE
01 Sep 10:
Danger at the Tops: Break ins point to fugitive
28 Aug 10:
Is Barrington Tops hiding state's most wanted man?
03 Sep 10:
Father's plea: Track down alleged killer
10 Sep 10:
Time to up the bounty on fugitive murder suspect
07 Sep 10:
Fugitive linked to break-in
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