The Snitch: Convicted killer Arthur Neddy Smith’s pathetic end to life

In his day, Neddy Smith was Sydney’s most infamous criminal. However the convicted killer now spends his days patting an imaginary dog.

Various news outlets have been predicting the imminent death of feared gangster Arthur “Neddy” Smith.

As far back as 2019, one report said he was believed to be just days away from death and was receiving treatment inside Prince of Wales Hospital, having been transferred there from Long Bay Jail.

Arthur Stanley ‘Neddy’ Smith in 1999.

But midway through 2021, the convicted murderer whose exploits inspired a TV series, lives on — albeit in an increasingly diminishing state.

We’re told that Smith is less than a shadow of his former self and currently spends most of his days sitting on a chair patting an imaginary dog.

It’s a far cry from the status he once carried as being Australia’s most infamous criminal.

But it begs the question: How should Smith’s condition and lengthy exit from this world be interpreted?

True-crime aficionados speak about Smith with a fondness for a bygone era where Sydney crooks were a bit more “authentic” than their modern-day counterparts.

Smith (left) with wife Deborah, and brothel owner Harvey Jones, who was later killed by Smith.

It almost overlooks the fact that he was a convicted killer who cashed in on the heroin trade that plagued Sydney for decades.

For a man who stood an imposing 6’6” (198cm) and whose fighting abilities struck fear into his enemies, Smith probably should have exited this world in movie star style in a hail of bullets.

Instead, his exit will be prolonged and Smith will die a sad old man.

WHERE’S SONNY?

Stuart MacGill on the pitch in 2008. Picture: AP

While we’re hearing whispers there might be more arrests on the cards in the Stuart MacGill kidnapping case, don’t expect one of those to be the mysterious “Sonny”.

Sonny is the man who allegedly stole 2kg of cocaine, leaving former Test cricketer MacGill — who has not been accused of any wrongdoing — to take the blame.

But we’re told Sonny’s whereabouts are still unknown, a month after four people were charged over the alleged kidnapping.

Which seems strange, if you ask us.

He’s an Uber driver, in the era of phone tapping, keycards, Covid travel restrictions and all manner of tinfoil-hat-inducing digital surveillance and he still can’t be found.

He must be a true Houdini.

AN0M CASH SHORTAGE

You’d think the arrests stemming from the FBI and AFP-led super-sting from the Trojan horse AN0M app would lead to what’s called a lawyers’ lunch.

But it appears that it might not be such a simple equation.

Several informed players reckon the raids that saw hundreds charged and almost $20 million seized might actually put some pressure on the state’s taxpayer-funded Legal Aid service.

The reason being: who’s going to pay?

“A large portion of the money that the (alleged criminals) might have used to pay private lawyers has been seized,” one source said.’

That’s not to say that the upstanding defence lawyers in this city get paid in dirty money.

But their clients are who they are and their services are something that has to be paid for — that’s the way the world works.

“We might see some of the up-the-chain players having to sell off some assets,” one source said.

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