Fourth accused gunman nabbed

Police have caught the fourth alleged gunman involved in the abduction and severe beating of a couple in the rural area.

Members of the Organised Crime Division swooped on the 27-year-old Palmerston man yesterday and are expected to charge him with two counts of deprivation of liberty, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, demand with menace, intent to cause injury and unlawfully causing grievous harm.

Three of his alleged co-offenders -- a 22-year-old man and a 27-year-old man from Palmerston and a 27-year-old Darwin man -- were arrested and charged with the same offences on Saturday and face Darwin Magistrates Court tomorrow.

The drama unfolded about 10.30pm last Thursday when police received a tip-off that two people had been abducted from an industrial shed at Yarrawonga.

After racing to the area they found a Holden station wagon containing the captives and their kidnappers and followed the vehicle along Wallaby Holtze Rd and on to the dirt Taylor Rd.

The abductors, who were armed with hand guns and a rifle or shotgun, then pulled over and ran into the bush, sparking a major manhunt.

Both captives -- a 27-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman -- were found in the abandoned car.

They had both been assaulted, with the man in particular severely beaten around the head in what one source described as a "controlled, experienced job".

The man is in Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition.

Police believe the abductions and bashings were carried out by a notorious drug gang.

The attackers were known to their victims and police would not comment on whether the gunmen intended to kill the pair before they were intercepted and rescued.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Mon, 30 May 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Greg McLean
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283