Murder accused to spend weeks in custody before next court date

The case of a man who went travelling across Australia after detectives released images of him in relation to the murder of his ex-partner in 1997, has had his case mentioned in a Brisbane court for the first time.

Keith Lees, 72, was arrested on the outskirts of Sydney last week over the death of 25-year-old Meaghan Louise Rose, whose body was found at the base of cliffs on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast nearly three decades ago.

Queensland police say they acted on information provided by a member of the public who had heard mention of the case in a podcast.

Keith Lees, the former partner of Meaghan Louise Rose, was extradited from Sydney to Brisbane to appear in court charged with her murder.Credit: AAPIMAGE

Lees’ case was mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday morning, where he was remanded in custody, with the matter moved to the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 24.

Lees did not appear in court on Friday morning, but will be required to appear via video link at the next hearing.

Lees was arrested at a property in Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, at 8am last Thursday. His extradition to Queensland was approved on Thursday morning at Hornsby Local Court.

Landing at Brisbane Airport on Thursday afternoon, Lees – who is now bald with a long grey beard – was flanked by police as he prepared to face justice for the first time over the allegations.

Meaghan Louise Rose’s body was found at the bottom of the cliffs in 1997.

He was later formally charged with one count of murder.

Rose’s sister, Fiona Ratcliffe, said it had been an emotional week for the family, especially seeing images of the arrest.

“A lot of tears...but we still have a long way to go,” she said.

Rose’s mother, now aged 88 and in palliative care for dementia, was also informed of the arrest, police said.

Rose worked in the disability and aged care sector and was considering going back to study before her death, which was initially treated as a suicide.

On the last day she was seen alive, she had gone to the Maroochydore RSL with Lees. Lees was 19 years Rose’s senior when they were together.

Police renewed their interest in Lees in mid-2023, when they issued a warrant for his arrest, arranged for Rose’s family members issue a public appeal for information, and attempted to interview him in Victoria.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, police said a $500,000 reward remained on offer for information leading to the conviction of Rose’s killer. Any accomplices, not involved in her murder, could also be eligible for an indemnity from prosecution.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said police believed Lees had also been living in the Northern Territory, and most recently in Dural.

“He has received assistance from a number of organisations, including religious groups during this time,” she said.

“Over the past 18 months he had travelled to a number of different states. He had gained assistance from people, from organisations and groups, and it accumulated in him obtaining accommodation, furniture, other associations and things like that.”

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