AN AUSTRALIAN criminal, once described as the nation’s most wanted man, is living in luxury in the Philippines, the West Australian reported March 19, 2011.
Brett Matson, who is wanted by the West Australian police, was involved in a daring escape from custody and was believed to be responsible for a string of armed robberies.
The Perth-based newspaper located him living in Manila with his wife and eight-week-old son. Warrants were issued for Matson’s arrest after he failed to appear in court in Perth in March and April last year on charges of unlawful possession of guns, ammunition and more than $90,000 in cash.
He and his former girlfriend Christine Evagora were dubbed “Bonnie and Clyde” after Matson escaped custody from a hospital waiting room in 1995 after he faked a suicide attempt and Evagora threatened patients and staff with a shotgun.
He was sent back to jail shortly after to serve out a 14-and-a-half-year prison sentence and was later arrested for breaching his parole conditions. He was released from jail in 2008.
His wife said that Matson had put his life of crime behind him and that he felt remorse for his crimes.
West Australian police would not comment on whether they would seek to have Matson extradited, but said people were “greatly mistaken” if they thought they could escape the law by travelling overseas.