Killer fugitive found in Queensland, to be extradited to NSW

A fugitive who killed a man during a bondage sex meet-up – and who was the subject of a NSW Police manhunt – has faced court in Brisbane after being captured in Queensland.

Trent Jennings had last been seen at a motel at The Entrance in January before the manhunt. Source: NSW Police

A fugitive who killed a man during a violent sexual encounter will be extradited back to New South Wales after he was arrested in Queensland last week.

Trent Jennings, 38, faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday where he did not oppose a warrant seeking his return to New South Wales.

The court heard New South Wales detectives were waiting to escort Jennings interstate to appear in a Surry Hills court on Tuesday.

NSW Police had appealed for information about Jennings’ whereabouts on January 19, revealing he was wanted on an outstanding order.

Jennings had not been seen since January 17, when he was spotted at a motel at The Entrance on the NSW central coast.

The alarm was raised when he failed to return to a mental health facility.

He was found in Queensland last Thursday.

Police had released images of Jennings in January. Source: NSW Police

In 2003, Jennings organised to meet with a man named Giuseppe Vitale under a bridge in a park in Sydney’s south for a sexual encounter.

He took with him a length of rope, amyl nitrate (a drug he’d used to heighten sexual pleasure) and a knife with an 11cm blade.

The men had a consensual sexual encounter, but while the other man was tied up, Jennings suddenly pounced, stabbing his victim in the neck.

A court heard evidence Jennings suffers from a schizophrenic illness and killed Vitale during a drug-induced psychosis.

He was found not guilty of murder on mental health grounds.

In January 2012, he robbed a man he’d met on a social networking site.

Jennings went to the man’s home, tied him up, robbed him and stole his Mercedes.

He was found a week later, asleep in the stolen car, in Byron Bay.

NSW Police made a public appeal for help in finding Jennings on January 19, two days after he was seen at a motel around 10pm on The Entrance Rd, The Entrance. Another public appeal was made on January 21.

“Trent is wanted by virtue of an outstanding ... order and he was reported missing to Sydney City Police Area Command,” a statement from NSW Police said.

“Trent is described as being of caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with a medium build, short brown receding hair, and has a scar on his right hand.

“When last seen he was wearing a blue shirt, navy shorts, blue runners, black and gold watch, and prescription glasses. He was also carrying a black backpack and a white tackle box.”