After a six-day manhunt, Northern Territory police arrested Jonathon Stenberg, 46, in bushland at Berry Springs about 50km south of Darwin at about 3pm yesterday.
The former solider, who was holed-up in a makeshift camp, was armed but in the end surrendered without firing a shot, police said.
Stenberg is wanted for the alleged beheading murder of Broadwater man Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly, whose body was found by police in his River Street home on Thursday 21 June. His head has still not been found.
Police say Stenberg had a significant cache of food and guns that would have allowed him to hide out for an extended period.
Mr Kelly’s niece Tanya told ABC radio it was a relief to know he had been captured.
‘It’s been absolutely horrendous – it’s brought us all a lot closer together,’ she said.
Local media reported that there was a history of animosity between Stenberg and Mr Kelly, who were neighbours at Broadwater, and that the Sunday before the killing Stenberg had walked into Broadwater Hotel and told a drinker there, ‘I’m here to hunt Ned Kelly’.
Stenberg will face extradition proceedings in Darwin Magistrates Court today.
