How Graham Potter became Australia's most wanted fugitive

Why Graham Potter was Australia's most wanted fugutive

Notorious fugitive Graham Potter avoided capture for 12 years until his life on the run abruptly ended in February in a small Far North Queensland town. This is how he became Australia's most wanted man.

In 1981, a then 23-year-old Potter murdered and decapitated Wollongong teenager Kim Barry in his flat after first meeting her at dance classes.

At the time, Potter denied the killing, instead claiming two men broke into his flat and murdered Ms Barry, before forcing him to mutilate her body and dispose of the parts.

A jury took just over an hour to reject his bizarre claim, with Potter serving 15 years of a life sentence for the gruesome slaying before his release in 1996.

Potter made connections in jail, including with Pasquale Barbarbo, who tried to smuggle 15 million ecstasy pills in tomato tins through Melbourne’s docks in 2007.

The haul, worth an estimated $440 million, was intercepted by federal police, leading to a blame game between underworld figures who owed overseas connections $10 million.

Police alleged Potter was commissioned by crime figures in Italy to assassinate two men connected to the failed smuggling plot, but the hits never went down.

Detectives arrested Potter on conspiracy to murder charges in May, 2009. Despite the serious nature of the allegations and his violent past, Potter was granted bail.

On February 1, 2010, Potter failed to appear in a Melbourne court, thus beginning his life on the run.

The last confirmed sighting of Potter before his February capture was in Tully, about two hours south of Cairns, on August 28, 2010.

During his 12 years as a fugitive, Potter was thought to have been living rough most of the time by camping and staying on the move.

Potter had a talent for blending in, especially in small towns. His skill set included farming, electronics, hydroponics, welding, bookkeeping and gold prospecting.

He also wore disguises, including a fat suit, and used aliases to stay ahead of police, who issued a $100,000 reward in 2011 for information leading to his capture.

Queensland detectives swooped on a property in Ravenshoe, about two hours south-west of Cairns, on February 20, after receiving information Potter was hiding out in a dilapidated shed.

The 64-year-old convicted killer was found inside a dingy, filthy property, where the windows were obscured from view and kittens were locked in cages.

Potter allegedly used an alias of “Josh Lawson” when approached by armed police. But biometric testing later revealed his true identity, bringing an end to his time on the run.

Words: Staff writers Producer: Andrew Piva Learn more

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Why Graham Potter was Australia's most wanted fugutive

Notorious fugitive Graham Potter avoided capture for 12 years until his life on the run abruptly ended in February in a small Far North Queensland town. This is how he became Australia's most wanted man.

In 1981, a then 23-year-old Potter murdered and decapitated Wollongong teenager Kim Barry in his flat after first meeting her at dance classes.

Horror murder

At the time, Potter denied the killing, instead claiming two men broke into his flat and murdered Ms Barry, before forcing him to mutilate her body and dispose of the parts.

A jury took just over an hour to reject his bizarre claim, with Potter serving 15 years of a life sentence for the gruesome slaying before his release in 1996.

Potter made connections in jail, including with Pasquale Barbarbo, who tried to smuggle 15 million ecstasy pills in tomato tins through Melbourne’s docks in 2007.

Organised crime

The haul, worth an estimated $440 million, was intercepted by federal police, leading to a blame game between underworld figures who owed overseas connections $10 million.

Police alleged Potter was commissioned by crime figures in Italy to assassinate two men connected to the failed smuggling plot, but the hits never went down.

Detectives arrested Potter on conspiracy to murder charges in May, 2009. Despite the serious nature of the allegations and his violent past, Potter was granted bail.

On February 1, 2010, Potter failed to appear in a Melbourne court, thus beginning his life on the run.

The last confirmed sighting of Potter before his February capture was in Tully, about two hours south of Cairns, on August 28, 2010.

Evading police

During his 12 years as a fugitive, Potter was thought to have been living rough most of the time by camping and staying on the move.

Potter had a talent for blending in, especially in small towns. His skill set included farming, electronics, hydroponics, welding, bookkeeping and gold prospecting.

He also wore disguises, including a fat suit, and used aliases to stay ahead of police, who issued a $100,000 reward in 2011 for information leading to his capture.

Queensland detectives swooped on a property in Ravenshoe, about two hours south-west of Cairns, on February 20, after receiving information Potter was hiding out in a dilapidated shed.

Apprehension

The 64-year-old convicted killer was found inside a dingy, filthy property, where the windows were obscured from view and kittens were locked in cages.

Potter allegedly used an alias of “Josh Lawson” when approached by armed police. But biometric testing later revealed his true identity, bringing an end to his time on the run.

Why Graham Potter was Australia's most wanted fugutive

Notorious fugitive Graham Potter avoided capture for 12 years until his life on the run abruptly ended in February in a small Far North Queensland town. This is how he became Australia's most wanted man.

In 1981, a then 23-year-old Potter murdered and decapitated Wollongong teenager Kim Barry in his flat after first meeting her at dance classes.

Horror murder

At the time, Potter denied the killing, instead claiming two men broke into his flat and murdered Ms Barry, before forcing him to mutilate her body and dispose of the parts.

A jury took just over an hour to reject his bizarre claim, with Potter serving 15 years of a life sentence for the gruesome slaying before his release in 1996.

Potter made connections in jail, including with Pasquale Barbarbo, who tried to smuggle 15 million ecstasy pills in tomato tins through Melbourne’s docks in 2007.

Organised crime

The haul, worth an estimated $440 million, was intercepted by federal police, leading to a blame game between underworld figures who owed overseas connections $10 million.

Police alleged Potter was commissioned by crime figures in Italy to assassinate two men connected to the failed smuggling plot, but the hits never went down.

Detectives arrested Potter on conspiracy to murder charges in May, 2009. Despite the serious nature of the allegations and his violent past, Potter was granted bail.

On February 1, 2010, Potter failed to appear in a Melbourne court, thus beginning his life on the run.

The last confirmed sighting of Potter before his February capture was in Tully, about two hours south of Cairns, on August 28, 2010.

Evading police

During his 12 years as a fugitive, Potter was thought to have been living rough most of the time by camping and staying on the move.

Potter had a talent for blending in, especially in small towns. His skill set included farming, electronics, hydroponics, welding, bookkeeping and gold prospecting.

He also wore disguises, including a fat suit, and used aliases to stay ahead of police, who issued a $100,000 reward in 2011 for information leading to his capture.

Queensland detectives swooped on a property in Ravenshoe, about two hours south-west of Cairns, on February 20, after receiving information Potter was hiding out in a dilapidated shed.

Apprehension

The 64-year-old convicted killer was found inside a dingy, filthy property, where the windows were ­obscured from view and kittens were locked in cages.

Potter allegedly used an alias of “Josh Lawson” when approached by armed police. But biometric testing later revealed his true identity, bringing an end to his time on the run.

The 64-year-old convicted killer was found inside a dingy, filthy property, where the windows were obscured from view and kittens were locked in cages.