Keith Lees faces Maroochydore Magistrates Court charged with Meaghan Louise Rose’s murder

A man accused of the cold case murder of Meaghan Louise Rose after she fell from cliffs at Mooloolaba has faced court in Maroochydore more than 27 years after her mysterious death.

Keith Lees was mentioned in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday after being charged with with the alleged cold case murder of Meaghan Rose almost 30 years ago. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

The man charged with the cold case murder of Meaghan Louise Rose has had his case mentioned in court on the Sunshine Coast after being extradited from interstate.

Keith Lees, 72, was hauled back to Queensland after he was allegedly discovered living under a fake identity while receiving government payments and subsidised housing in New South Wales.

His alleged life on the run came to an end on January 2 after he was arrested on a warrant for the murder of Ms Rose, 25, who was found dead at the base of the Point Cartwright cliffs in Mooloolaba on July 18, 1997. 

Her death was originally deemed a suicide before a reinvestigation by the Queensland Police Service homicide squad’s cold case team in 2022.

Keith Lees after being extradited to Queensland on January 9. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Ms Rose’s death was re-examined by cold case detectives years after her death.

Lees was arrested by police at a property in Dural, a semirural suburb 36km northwest of Sydney, after a tip-off from the public.

Homicide’s cold case unit Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said at the time of Lees’ arrest, police alleged Lees was at times helped by religious groups while on the run.

The 72-year-old was extradited to Queensland where he faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 10 charged with murder and was remanded in custody to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.

During his brief court appearance, duty lawyer Jamiee Burns asked for a brief of evidence and for his matters to be adjourned.

Magistrate Rod Madsen agreed and adjourned the 72-year-old’s matter to April 28 with no application for bail, and he was remanded in custody.

Lees had been in a relationship with Ms Rose, who he met in Victoria, before they moved to the Sunshine Coast together in 1996.

She was employed as an assistant nurse at Blue Nurses at Marcoola and also the Coolum Nursing Home.

On July 18, 1997, 25-year-old Meaghan Rose was found dead at the base of the Point Cartwright cliffs in Mooloolaba. Picture: Qld Police

Cold case officers re-examining her death spoke to Lees in June 2023. He subsequently went missing.

After Lees disappeared following questioning in 2023, police said they believed he may be fruit-picking and launched a national appeal to help find him.

A $500,000 reward for information was also issued by police if it lead to an arrest.

He was seen in Port Fairy in southwestern Victoria on June 26, 2023.

The following day he was seen on CCTV buying new clothes in Geelong as well as at Shepparton Train Station, north of Melbourne.

There were no further confirmed sightings of Lees, however investigations continued as well as national appeals.

Senior Sergeant Kentwell said a person tipped off police to Lees’ whereabouts after listening to a podcast about the cold case.

She said Lees had changed his appearance, including growing a large beard.

Originally published as Keith Lees faces Maroochydore Magistrates Court charged with Meaghan Louise Rose’s murder