The man accused of the brazen daylight execution of a Sydney lawyer asked one of the country’s most notorious jail escapees for his autograph.
John Killick became Australia’s most wanted man when he was plucked from the city’s maximum security Silverwater prison in a helicopter hijacked by lover in 1999.
He was serving time in prison several years ago when he met the man this week accused of shooting dead Bankstown lawyer Ho Ledinh.
‘I knew him inside – I can only say how I found him he was quite the gentleman really,’ Killick said.
John Killick broke out of Silverwater jail and was scooped up by a hijacked helicopter in 1999
A man, 38, has been accused of the murder of Ho Ledinh at the Happy Cup cafe in Bankstown
‘People liked him inside because he was quiet and kept to his own business.’
Killick’s audacious escape meant he was a notorious figure behind bars at Wellington prison.
When both the now-accused killer and Killick finally got out of their prison greens, the pair met up for coffee.
He asked for the older jailbird’s personal signature on his first autobiography, Gambling for Love.
‘He was always a gentleman, he was always polite,’ Killick said.
The book delved into the audacious jailbreak, Killick’s crimes, escapes and love life. He recently released a new book, The Last Escape.
Killick’s Russian lover Lucy Dudko spent seven years in prison over the helicopter heist
This is the helicopter used in John Killick’s brazen escape from Silverwater max security jail
Homicide detectives rushed to arrest the globetrotter on Tuesday when he turned up at the airport with a one-way ticket to Bali.
Police had not been planning to quickly charge the man over the father-of-six’s tragic death but their hand was forced by his sudden departure.
He is currently in police custody and did not apply for bail in a Sydney court on Wednesday. Bail was formally refused.
Ledinh’s accused killer is seen after he was charged at Mascot Police Station on Tuesday
John Killick
Mr Ledinh was gunned down at the Happy Cup cafe in Bankstown between 3.30 and 3.35pm on January 23.
Investigators believe the killer had co-conspirators.
Mr Ledinh’s friends have suggested his strident anti-communist views or criminal connections could be a motive for the slaying.
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