TWO Dubbo men have offered their services to the NSW police to help track down fugitive Malcolm Naden. Their motivation is to see natural justice being served.
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Mabk Wilson, a Barkendjhman born in Bourke who has lived in Dubbo for 44 years, and Geoff Winters, a Gamilaroi man originally from Walgett also living in Dubbo, said they were concerned with the man hunt and bounty on Naden.
Mr Wilson, a licensed builder, and Mr Winters, who is an electrician, approached the Daily Liberal with their offer and said there were increasing levels of concern within their communities about the prospect of bounty hunters and searchers for Naden getting involved in a gunfight, the possible loss of life.
Both men said they would volunteer to “go into the bush” to bring Naden out so he could have his day in court.
“We could track him, all we need is a sniff,” Mr Wilson said.
Both men said they were not related to Naden and if it were proved in a court of law he was guilty of the alleged crimes they would support any penalty given.
However the publicity generated for the search of Naden, who has been on the run for almost seven years, was serving to polarise opinion.
“It haunts me, this manhunt; that in this day and age this man could be shot down for the price on his head,” Mr Wilson said.
“This case hasn’t been to court yet and yet he’s pre-judged.
“Our concern is that if he were a white man would this be happening?” he said.
Mr Winters believes the bounty on Naden was, “setting a bad precedent for our state and country”.
Mr Wilson said Naden should hand himself in to ensure he got a fair hearing in court.
“It’s a (legal) system that’s been here for 240 years.
“This is not Bali (where the death penalty exists). He deserves a trial and the family of the girls needs closure.
“If Malcolm is killed before a trial then there’s no justice and no closure,” he said.
“If they kill him it will be a wrongful death,” Mr Winters added.
He said people in the Aboriginal community “were scared” about what could happen to Naden.
“But this is the 21st century and he (Naden) needs his day in court,” Mr Winters said.
Mr Wilson said the bush telegraph was telling all sorts of stories about Naden.
He said a break and enter of a hotel in North Bourke about four weeks ago had people talking about Naden being in another part of the state, well away from the search centred on the Barrington Tops, west of Gloucester.
He said blankets and food were the chief items stolen in the break-in; while any money and alcohol was left alone.
