Ryan Sampson appears in court after 1200km interstate manhunt

A fugitive wanted for questioning in a NSW stabbing investigation and captured by police following an extraordinary manhunt spanning 1200km has appeared in a Queensland court. VIDEO.

A fugitive wanted for questioning in a NSW stabbing investigation and captured by police following an extraordinary manhunt in regional Queensland has appeared in court.

Ryan Sampson, 33, was sentenced for outstanding Queensland offences - the assault of two jail guards - ahead of an extradition application which Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard would be made by NSW police later this week.

Sampson, who was on a Return to Prison Warrant, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one serious assault of a corrective services officer causing bodily harm, one of serious assault of a corrective services officer and one of failing to appear in court.

It comes after a NSW Police spokeswoman on Monday said detectives investigating the stabbing death of a man in Hamilton two weeks ago were working with Queensland Police after a 33-year-old man was arrested in Yeppoon in Central Queensland.

Sampson was taken into custody after a large police search at Yeppoon on Sunday which included the CapRescue search and rescue helicopter, water police, the dog squad and specialist units.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Peter Rumford told the court Sampson was located on November 24, 2024, about 5.30pm.

CapRescue's chopper joined Queensland Police on a hunt for a man spotted in Yeppoon while under investigation by NSW Police on November 24, 2024.

In relation to the Queensland charges, Snr Cnst Rumford said Sampson was an inmate at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre in south-east Queensland when two guards were helping move him back to his cell from the yard on August 20, 2021, at 2.45pm.

He said Sampson removed his hands from behind his head after being told to keep them there.

Snr Cons Rumford said the guards placed Sampson against the back wall of his cell before leaving the cell - a procedure carried out to allow officers to leave in a secure manner without incident.

Water Police join the hunt for a man wanted by NSW Police on November 24, 2024 after he was spotted in Yeppoon.

“The defendant again dropped his hands and commenced to turn off the back wall before the cell door was secure,” he said.

Snr Cons Rumford said both guards returned to where Sampson stood and he repositioned himself back against the wall.

“The defendant became agitated and aggressive and refused to spread his legs and adopted the position required,” he said.

Snr Const Rumford said Sampson began yelling obscenities at the guards and when he was told to stop swearing, he punched them, striking one on the nose and causing it to bleed.

The other was struck in the head and body while he tried to regain control of Sampson.

Ryan Sampson was taken into custody by Queensland Police after he was spotted in Yeppoon on Sunday, November 24, 2024 and he is expected to be extradited to NSW as part of an investigation into a stabbing.

Other guards came to their aid after a call for help went out.

They wrestled Sampson to the ground and he was restrained while the guard struck on the nose required medical attention.

Sampson had a two-page Queensland criminal record, 29-page NSW criminal record and 46-page bail report tendered to the court.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said his client, a father-of-three, had issues with methamphetamines which he had been using since he was 12-years-old.

He said Sampson had no excuse for his behaviour.

Mr Gimbert said his client had 722 days remaining on the sentence he now had to serve out which was the subject of the Return to Prison warrant.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said meth was a “terrible” drug and if Sampson had been using it since he was 12, “it’s no wonder you’ve gone down this path”.

Sampson was sentenced to six months for the Queensland offences with immediate parole eligibility.

Originally published as Ryan Sampson appears in court after 1200km interstate manhunt