NSW: Mad Dog dashes to freedom - legally

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2004
NSW: Mad Dog dashes to freedom - legally

Eds; Updates age on new information



By Dale Paget

GRAFTON, NSW, Dec 8 AAP - Russell "Mad Dog" Cox made another dash for freedom today,
but this time it was a legally sanctioned escape.

Hiding his face behind an envelope, the notorious bandit and prison escapee led a posse
of media through the streets of Grafton in NSW in a dramatic chase after being freed from
jail on parole.

He then used a few tricks a robber would be proud of to make a final getaway.

Tonight Cox, 57, a career criminal once called Australia's most wanted man, was planning
a new life in Queensland after serving 29 years and four months in prison.

He told guards in the Grafton Correctional Centre that he was intent on leading a normal life.

Cox, released under strict parole conditions, had contemplated making a statement as
he left Grafton jail a free man.

But in the end he remained mute when he stepped out of the front gate, tightly holding
the envelope over his face and wearing a straw hat, green jacket, sweat pants and running
shoes.

"After being inside for so long he is nervous and I suppose that is the reason he doesn't
want to have any fuss as he leaves," explained Corrective Services north west region commander
Donald Rodgers.

"He's just eager to leave the prison and get on with his life."

But first the only man to escape from Long Bay's infamous Katingal maximum security
complex in Sydney executed a perfectly planned escape from the media swarm.

Prison chaplain Ian Bailey, a former speedway driver, drove Cox away from the prison
gates with media vehicles in hot pursuit.

As television cameras closed in Cox leapt from his car, ran through a busy Grafton
arcade, across a street and through a second arcade before fleeing in a waiting back-up
car.

Cox was last seen driving out of town towards a less than warm welcome in Queensland.

"I wish he would stay elsewhere," said Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

"I'm not very excited about it, no, but he's done his time.

"He needs to be very careful while he's here, if he breaches the law or commits any
offence then he will go back to jail."

Cox, born Melville Peter Schnitzerling, was sentenced to life after a failed 1975 escape
bid from Long Bay during which he kidnapped two warders at gunpoint.

In November 1977 he successfully broke out of Katingal and spent 11 years on the run
before being recaptured in a shoot out with police during a payroll van robbery in Melbourne.

In 1996 the NSW Supreme Court reduced his sentence to a minimum 29 years and four months
and recently the state's parole board ruled Cox had made "remarkable and successful efforts
at rehabilitation".

Today's release was opposed by NSW Opposition justice spokesman Andrew Humpherson,
who described Cox as a career criminal who had not spent enough time behind bars.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said the decision was out of his hands.

"This is the justice system making a decision, I can't overrule it," he said.

Cox was woken at 7am today and ate a final prison breakfast of cereal and toast. A
crowd of about a dozen spectators watched his release shortly after 9.30am (AEDT).

"I guess they'll make a movie about him so I wanted to have a look,' said Grafton resident
Andrew Taylor.

A former inmate who said he knew Cox well predicted the reformed bandit would make
a model citizen.

"I guarantee you will never hear from him again," said the ex-prisoner, who asked to
be known only as Rod.

"He won't even run a red light. He won't fart in public."

Cox is set to take up a job as a labourer and cleaner in Queensland. He is expected
to meet Queensland Corrective Services officers on Friday and will be required to report
at least weekly.

He'll also have random visits by parole officers and may be subject to drug and alcohol testing.

AAP dp/sc/sp/jlw

KEYWORD: COX NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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