Two people are charged with murder nine years after a man walked out of a pub in a remote town and disappeared
- Police arrest two men in connection to the murder of Darren Royce Willis
- Mr Willis last seen leaving the Imperial Hotel at Bingara, remote NSW, in 2010
- Police launched investigation and appealed for information suspecting foul play
- A 47 and 48-year-old man were arrested and charged in connection to murder
Two people have been charged in connection to the murder of a man who disappeared from a pub in a remote town nine years ago.
Police swooped in on the men – aged 47 and 48 – at two Bingara properties, in remote western New South Wales, on Friday.
The arrest comes almost a decade after Darren Royce Willis, 45, was last seen leaving the Imperial Hotel in the town in 2010.
Police swooped in on the 47 and 48-year-old men at two Bingara properties, in remote western New South Wales, on Friday
The arrest comes almost a decade after Darren Royce Willis, 45 (pictured), was last seen leaving the Imperial Hotel in the town in 2010
Officers had been searching for the missing man ever since his disappearance and suspected he may have met with foul play.
‘Police will allege in court that Mr Willis was fatally assaulted near his Bingara home before his body was disposed of at an unknown location,’ police said in a statement.
Police issued a $350,000 reward for any vital information over his vanishing before they finally made their arrests.
The 48-year-old man has been charged with murder while the 47-year-old has been charged with concealing a serious offence.
‘Along with local police, the Bingara community has been heavily invested in finding out what happened to Darren, and we’ve received lots of information, which has proven invaluable to our investigation,’ New England Police District Commander, Superintendent Scott Tanner told 9News.
‘Without their support and the meticulous work of Moree detectives, I don’t think we would be where we are today: two people before the courts on murder charges.
‘While Darren’s family may feel some relief today, the news is somewhat bittersweet because they still haven’t been able to properly lay him to rest,’ Supt Tanner said.
The two men will front court on Monday.
Police issued a $350,000 reward for any vital information over his vanishing before they finally made their arrests
Officers had been searching for the missing man ever since his disappearance and suspected he may have met with foul play
The two men (one pictured being arrested) will front court on Monday