People you meet along the way - Episode Eight - Aubrey Charles Birks Arrest

Aubery Charles Birks, a fugitive wanted for serious crimes, evades law enforcement using various survival tactics. His actions deeply affect the local community, leading to a significant manhunt for his capture. After serving 12 years in prison, Birkss is killed by a fellow inmate. An obituary highlights his complex life, showcasing both the fear he instilled and his love for family.

Transcript

1:19

I am Terry Galloway with another story of people I've met along the way in a lifetime in the media. May and June of 19 8600 of pleas across the central west hundred, a 28-year-old C**n Amble, born and bred man, Rey Charles Burkes wanted for rape, assault, stealing, car theft, kidnapping, and other crimes. His pursuers. We get to think up in the state's biggest manhunt since the infamous NewCom and Simmons Chase of October, 1959. Burke's led the police posse throughout northern and western New South Wales, crisscrossing the border into Queensland, then bracing away on stolen motorcycles in stolen cars, and on foot into bushland. Too tough for some of the pursuers to contemplate following Burkes lived off the land during his hide and seek with the law. Locals found sheep with their throats cut and evidence that Burkes ate their meat. Roar, no fire for fear of discovery. The search for Burkes began at Bathurst, where in an argument with his wife, he assaulted and raped her. Heading north, he adopted the alias, David Ryan and alluded several attempts to affect his capture. What do you know about the offender? Well, we know he is a local, he knows the area very well. He's been raised here. He's driven cattle through the area. He's fenced the area, and, um, at the moment he appears to be a very desperate man. Do you think he'd be receiving any assistance from people living in the area? No, I don't believe he is. In fact, I believe that we're receiving the assistance, not him. At Ooga, Burkes evaded a team of 30 police backed by Tracker dogs and the air wing in a three day operation. Lightning Ridge Police are reported to have come close to capture, but again, the fugitive alluded them. Ray Reed is the man Aubrey, Charles Burkes abducted at Lightning Ridge. How do you feel now, Mr. Reed? Oh, well, not, uh, real good at the moment, you know? No, yeah, I'm good. Shaken up at the moment. F okay. Yep. Alright, mate. Did the bloke threaten you at all? Were you threatened? Yeah, I won't be making any comments, mate. I'm petty shaken up, you see, after the whole show. Yep. And, uh, I've been at Hill at gunpoint for most of the time. See, oh, well, most of the trip, you know. Did he threaten you all the time, you know, but, uh, what did he actually say? Oh, he said a lot of things, you know, but as I say, I'm not, uh, prepared. It's only at this moment because, uh, I'm a bit, uh, shaken up about the whole situation, you see. Did you ever think that you would get out alive? Oh, well, once again, you know? What were your thoughts, Ray? Oh, I had lots of thoughts, but, uh, survival was the main one. Did you try to escape? No. No. No. What did you do? How, how did you spend your time with this man? Uh, I just went along with him. You know, What are you going do now? I'll be waiting here for a while. Police told reporters Burkes had a remarkable sense of bushcraft and could travel on foot, overland up to 40 kilometers a day. After 10 days, Burke's bid to outrun the law finally failed on the outskirts of Peak Hill, where a local reported finding one of his sheep dead police closed in, forming a long line in the sw across the paddock, followed closely by the media pack we watched as the heavily armed officers, EMU Parade examined every possible hiding hole. Then on the left flank, Burke stood up from behind a clump of bushes, raising his hands in, surrender a shotgun in his right hand. Then as if in slow motion, leaning down to carefully face the weapon at his feet, police converge through Berks to the ground, handcuffed his hands behind his back, and let him away Relay that. We, I took advantage of the moment to record some words from Burkes thrusting the two GB microphone in front of him. This is the first broadcast anywhere of how he answered. You. Glad it's over. You glad it's over? Not really. Huh? What made you do it? What was behind it? I miss, I said I didn't own the baby. Hey. Oh, nothing. No comment. Weren't You worried about what your family would think? Yeah. Is there anything you wanna say to your family? Yes, I'm sorry, and I love him very much. What question? A Cfer said, that's enough leading Burkes away into custody that would see him held in a maximum security prison for the next 12 years. Then in a twist of fate, Burkes died at the hands of a fellow prisoner stabbed to death in Lithgow jail at the age of 41. In May, 1999, the Sydney Morning Herald carried an obituary written by Jenny Hicks, who described Burkes as a lifelong friend and one of 11 children who grew up in a nomadic lifestyle with his father doing itinerant work in the bush and in the central west. Ms. Hicks wrote to a society at large, he was nothing, just one of them in there who deserve what they get. Yet he liked them all as a human being with his secret hopes and dreams, but to his victims and locals living on central western properties. Burkes also created 10 days of fear and concern with women shoveling behind locked doors, fearing the worst, and cheering with relief at his capture. I'm Terry Galloway as always. There's more to come.