Revealed: why alleged runaway bikie Mark Horne was granted bail by court

Mark Horne is allegedly on the run after cutting off his ankle bracelet in the back of an Uber, before taking a private plane to Queensland.

Australia’s new most wanted man was granted bail at the height of last year’s Covid-19 lockdown because a Court was not convinced “there was a real flight risk” at the time.

Mark Horne is allegedly on the run after cutting off his ankle bracelet in the back of an Uber, before taking a private plane out of Bankstown Airport to Queensland.

The bikie associate was on strict bail granted by NSW Supreme Court Justice Richard Cavanagh in August 2021 on charges relating to the shooting of a drug running truckie in the Blue Mountains a year earlier.

The Daily Telegraph can now reveal the details of the hearing in which Justice Cavanagh gave Horne bail, stating not only did he not pose a flight risk, but his family business was struggling and the conditions of his release were “as strict as they could be”.

Mark Horne is allegedly on the run after cutting off his ankle bracelet in the back of an Uber last Friday. Picture: NSW Police

The heavily-tattooed Horne was out on bail, awaiting trial. Picture: NSW Police

Horne and a group of men allegedly knew truck driver Leith Carstairs was on his way from Perth to NSW to with $550,000 cash ready to exchange for a shipment of drugs, the court heard.

About 8pm on September 28, 2020 the truckie allegedly arrived at the agreed drop off spot at Mt Lambie.

But once there, Carstairs received a text telling him “old mate” could not meet him until the morning, so he went to sleep in his truck cabin, the court heard.

At 4am a group of men allegedly including Horne broke into the cabin and dragged him out, saying “where is the money?”.

Carstairs was allegedly then repeatedly bashed and shot several times.

In opposing Horne’s release, police told the court heard he had a history of breaching bail – having been out over a separate offence at the time of the alleged shooting and kidnap of the truck driver.

Horne’s barrister Greg James QC submitted to the court that a trial would be unlikely to get underway until 2023, a delay of more than two years from the time of his arrest.

This, Mr James claimed, would add to the impact on his wife and children, who were already unable to run his earthworks business to the level Horne had before his arrest.

“The applicant has a family and it is not clear to me how there could be a real flight risk in these times. The real concern is the risk of the applicant committing a further serious offence and a risk of interference with the victim and witnesses,” Justice Cavanagh said.

NSW Police Criminal Groups Squad Commander Grant Taylor said investigators believe after cutting off his ankle bracelet, he took a private plane to Queensland. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

The NSW Supreme Court heard last year that Horne was on bail at the time of the offence for which he was soon due to face trial. Picture: NSW Police

“All of these (bail) conditions are, in reality, as strict as they could be.

“It seems to me that in all the circumstances the conditions do sufficiently ameliorate the risk and bail is granted.”

Horne’s bail conditions included the wearing of an electronic monitoring bracelet, a nightly curfew and the deposit of a $500,000 surety.

NSW Police Criminal Groups Squad Commander Grant Taylor said investigators believe after cutting off his ankle bracelet he went to Bankstown Airport and took a private plane to Queensland.

From there they believe he is planning to take a boat to South East Asia.

Horne’s trial was due to start at Parramatta Local Court in coming weeks, but a warrant is now out for his arrest.