Australia’s most wanted fugitive Mark Horne fronts court

One of Australia’s most wanted fugitives has faced court after he allegedly cut off his ankle bracelet and tried to flee the country in the hull of a yacht.

One of Australia’s most wanted fugitives has been denied bail after appearing in court after he allegedly cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet and attempted to flee the country while hidden inside a yacht.

Mark Horne appeared in Parramatta District Court on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after he arrived in NSW after being extradited from the Northern Territory.

The 32-year-old had been due to face trial over his alleged involvement in the shooting of a truck driver and the theft of $550,000 cash in September 2020 when he went on the run.

He was represented by Hisham Karnib as he briefly appeared in court via video link from a cell in Surry Hills Police Station.

Crown prosecutor Edwina Kwong made a detention application that was not opposed by Mr Karnib.

Mark Horne, 32, was arrested following a national manhunt lasting nearly four months.

Wearing a grey Shimano jumper, Mr Horne listened intently as he was told by judge Christopher Craigie that he would remain in prison on remand.

Judge Craigie described Mr Horne’s alleged bail breach as “egregious”.

“The circumstances in which he was found and arrested in the Northern Territory indicate that he retained a strong disposition to flight, not just from the jurisdiction of NSW but from the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia,” Judge Craigie said.

“And he was in possession of items consistent with a furtherance of that aim of frustrating the administration of justice.”

Mr Horne will appear in court again next week when a trial date will be set.

His extradition marked the conclusion of a months-long nationwide manhunt that began after Mr Horne allegedly removed his electronic monitoring device in October 2021.

He was wanted on two outstanding arrest warrants.

He was due to face trial when he vanished.

Police allege he hid in the back of an Uber near Riverwood, in Sydney’s south, which then headed west on the M5 motorway.

Police began a “significant operation” to locate the alleged bikie associate.

After nearly four months of extensive searching, the Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Taskforce arrested Mr Horne on the afternoon of January 25.

Police allege they found the 32-year-old hiding in the hull of a yacht as it attempted to sail from Cullen Bay Marina in Darwin for an international destination.

The fugitive was allegedly found in possession of false documents and a large sum of Australian cash when he was cowering behind fuel containers.

The wanted fugitive was found hiding in the hull of a yacht.

Mr Horne was forcibly returned to NSW on Tuesday. Picture: NSW Police

On January 27, Mr Horne appeared before Darwin Local Court, where police were granted his extradition to NSW.

The alleged bikie associate arrived in NSW at 6pm on Tuesday, escorted by officers from the State Crime Command’s criminal groups squad.

Police anticipate making further arrests as they continue investigations into the identities of any accomplices who helped the alleged bikie associate escape the NSW jurisdiction.