August 08, 2012
Former bush fugitive Malcolm Naden is too mentally ill to make an informed plea as he faces a second count of murder over the death of his cousin, a Sydney court has heard.
Just months after an extensive manhunt saw Naden captured by police in March, the 38-year-old was charged with a fresh count of murder during a brief court appearance at Sydney's Central Local Court yesterday.
According to court documents, police allege on January 4, 2005, Naden murdered his cousin, Lateesha Nolan.
Ms Nolan disappeared near West Dubbo and her body has never been found.
It is the second murder with which the former abattoir worker has been charged.
He is also accused of killing 24-year-old mother of two Kristy Scholes.
But Naden is not well enough to enter a plea on either count, his lawyer Mark Ierace SC said. He told the court: ''The only plea at this stage could not be an informed plea.''
Naden was captured on March 22 in a remote area near Gloucester in the Upper Hunter region, after almost seven years on the run. He has also been charged with two counts of aggravated indecent assault on a girl, 12, and the attempted murder of a police officer at Nowendoc last December 7.
The matter has been adjourned until October 16. AAP