Biography Neddy Smith

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 criminal career
1.3 blue murder
1.4 later life

biography
early life

smith born australian mother , american serviceman father whom never knew, , brought in sydney. attended boys homes approximately 3 years after becoming involved in burglaries , other offences.

criminal career

smith has spent of rest of life in prison, serving sentences 1963–1965, 1968–1975, 1978–1980 , 1989, date. smith self-confessed heroin dealer, , armed robber gained notoriety violent temper. standing 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall , weighing 16 stone (100 kilograms) in prime, smith exploited size when involved in countless street fights , bar brawls. journalist john dale has commented there no doubting neddy smith s physical size , menacing aura. in neddy: life , crimes of arthur stanley smith, claimed have beaten former british , commonwealth heavyweight champion bunny johnson after row outside sydney nightclub. however, denies committing rape imprisoned in 1968 , numerous murders of has been accused.

smith gained further notoriety when became whistle-blower , star witness independent commission against corruption , wood royal commission. obtained immunity crimes had committed, except murder, in exchange testifying against former new south wales police detective roger rogerson , other allegedly corrupt police officers.

during icac proceedings, smith testified had committed 8 armed robberies , had made large amount of money dealing heroin. alleged members of new south wales police had given him green light commit crimes , had aided him in various robberies , other crimes. claimed have paid corrupt police officers large sums of money escape criminal charges himself , assist friends in avoiding criminal charges.

in damage done, warren fellows claimed had witnessed smith make death threats against 2 police officers attempted take him in questioning on daughter s 10th birthday. fellows alleges working smith when arrested in thailand attempting smuggle 8.5 kg (19 lb) of heroin australia. fellows travelling in company of smith s brother-in-law, paul hayward, charged trafficking.

though smith has been charged 8 murders, has been convicted of murder of brothel owner harvey jones , murder-in-company of tow-truck driver named ronnie flavell during incident of road rage on 30 oct 1987.

at perth coronial inquest in august 2017, alleged smith may have been contracted murder brothel-keeper shirley finn in june 1975.

blue murder

smith s claimed exploits, , of allegedly corrupt new south wales police officers, depicted in mini-series blue murder, based on smith s book, neddy, , produced australia s public broadcaster, abc tv. first aired in of australia in 1995, show banned in new south wales until 2001 due icac hearings, wood royal commission , outstanding contempt of court charges. australian actor tony martin played smith, while richard roxburgh played rogerson.

in blue murder, smith shown murdering whistle-blower prostitute sallie-anne huckstepp. smith recorded in prison cell confessing crime, , later made same confession publisher. however, has otherwise consistently denied involvement in murder , has maintained knew being secretly recorded in cell , made statement gain publicity book. subsequently charged huckstepp s murder, acquitted. in second book, catch , kill own, smith implies ignorance, told writer john dale knows committed murder , release information once killer dead.

later life

diagnosed parkinson s disease in 1981, smith served 14 years in long bay correctional centre, nsw, , regular patient @ prison hospital. in 2003 moved lithgow correctional centre. in 2008, daily telegraph reported parkinson s medication had ceased being effective , smith s health had deteriorated, leaving him unable maintain balance , using wheelchair. despite fact imprisoned rest of life, smith continues refuse assist police ongoing investigations of unsolved murders, not covered immunity granted him in exchange testimony against allegedly corrupt police officers @ independent commission against corruption , wood royal commission hearings.

in april 2017, smith attempted escape custody while being treated heart problems @ prince of wales hospital in randwick. allegedly sneaked past 2 prison guards caught nurses in corridor.