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According to a few who know Scorpio 4 Pigs he's on the run in the NT of Austrailia
4 Sep 2002
NT abductor close to crime scene: police
The gunman who abducted two German tourists in Top End scrub was probably still close to the scene of his crime, police said.
While Matt Page was feared to be heavily armed and mentally unstable, police hoped he would still be captured without bloodshed.
A keen bushman with plenty of camping gear, Mr Page could be hiding near Litchfield National Park where he robbed a mother and daughter of less than $100 at gunpoint and then tied them to a tree.
But despite having more than seven hours' head start before the alarm was raised on Sunday morning, detectives doubt he drove far.
"It's our view that he's still in the area," Northern Territory Police Assistant Commissioner John Daulby said.
"There's limited sightings of him since that incident but we're confident we'll locate him."
Mr Page's father, Canberra academic Rod Page, who flew to Darwin to help police, could be used by negotiators to resolve the manhunt peacefully, Mr Daulby said.
"With his family up here and the plea for him to come forward and to get help, hopefully we can arrange all this without anybody getting harmed," he said.
Police have warned that the 31-year-old police force aspirant could attempt to slip their net by switching the number plates on the blue 1999 100 series Toyota Landcruiser he stole from Maryborough, Queensland, on July 13.
He could have replaced the original plates, 357 EZM, with his own, 002 FGV.
Prime Minister John Howard has been drawn into the public debate about whether NT police overstepped the mark by identifying Mr Page and declaring him guilty.
"I think, on balance, the police are justified in doing what they've done," he told Brisbane radio station 4BC.
"If they didn't do what they've done, (if) something horrible ... were to occur, then the public would be down on them like a tonne of bricks."
But forensic psychologist Michael Diamond has urged police to lay off.
He argued Mr Page was more likely suffering from a mood disorder than becoming a dangerous psychopath.
"The dangerousness would really be through inappropriate dealing with him - actually terrifying him and forcing a showdown," Dr Diamond told the Seven Network.
============================================================
The father of a gunman accused of abducting two German tourists in remote Top End scrub has begged his son not to harm himself or anyone else.
Dr Rod Page, a Canberra academic, appealed through a media conference in Darwin to 31-year-old Queenslander Matt Page to surrender to police.
Police are convinced Matt Page is the gunman who fired a shot while abducting 50-year-old Nuremberg psychologist Eva Obermeyer and her 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, in Litchfield National Park.
He is understood to have stolen less than $100 cash before leaving them bound overnight to a tree with cable ties.
Dr Page, with Matt's younger brother, Brad, at his side, told his fugitive son that his family stood by him.
"Brad and I are now in Darwin, we are here close by to help you and support you," Dr Page said.
"And we beg you not to harm yourself or anyone else; we beg you Matt, talk to the police."
Dr Page, a 57-year-old Australian National University geologist, and his 29-year-old son, Brad, from Melbourne, flew to Darwin today to help the police manhunt.
Matt Page had been a steady family member and employee who lived with his grandparents at Harvey Bay until a few months ago, relative David Sutherland said.
Police have warned that he is armed with a several firearms and should be avoided at all costs.
Dr Sutherland, a NSW general practitioner, said the family feared that police treating him as a criminal rather than someone with a mental disorder could lead to tragedy.
He said Matt Page, an accomplished bushman, was probably now hiding in scrub.
"He would probably stay in the bush and I would say he'd be now fearful of the consequences and ashamed of what he's done," he told ABC radio.
"But in the middle of erratic behaviour it's hard to know how realistic he's thinking at this stage."
While Matt Page had no diagnosed mental condition, Dr Sutherland suspected he was suffering from depression.
Police concentrated their efforts on finding the 4WD they believe Matt Page was driving - a blue Toyota Landcruiser, Queensland registration 357 EZN.
It was stolen from Maryborough, near Hervey Bay, six weeks ago.
Police have received several reported sightings of either Mr Page or the Landcruiser but none had been confirmed.
Acting Police Commander Bert Hofer made no apology for taking the unusual step of publicly condemning a suspect as guilty.
"I don't think there's any doubt at all that the person we're seeking, Mr Page, is the person responsible," Cmdr Hofer said.
Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman accused the police of jeopardising Mr Page's chances of a fair trial because of their failure to solve the Falconio murder.
"Northern Territory police are under a fair bit of pressure because of all the background of the Falconio case," Mr O'Gorman said.
4 Sep 2002
NT abductor close to crime scene: police
The gunman who abducted two German tourists in Top End scrub was probably still close to the scene of his crime, police said.
While Matt Page was feared to be heavily armed and mentally unstable, police hoped he would still be captured without bloodshed.
A keen bushman with plenty of camping gear, Mr Page could be hiding near Litchfield National Park where he robbed a mother and daughter of less than $100 at gunpoint and then tied them to a tree.
But despite having more than seven hours' head start before the alarm was raised on Sunday morning, detectives doubt he drove far.
"It's our view that he's still in the area," Northern Territory Police Assistant Commissioner John Daulby said.
"There's limited sightings of him since that incident but we're confident we'll locate him."
Mr Page's father, Canberra academic Rod Page, who flew to Darwin to help police, could be used by negotiators to resolve the manhunt peacefully, Mr Daulby said.
"With his family up here and the plea for him to come forward and to get help, hopefully we can arrange all this without anybody getting harmed," he said.
Police have warned that the 31-year-old police force aspirant could attempt to slip their net by switching the number plates on the blue 1999 100 series Toyota Landcruiser he stole from Maryborough, Queensland, on July 13.
He could have replaced the original plates, 357 EZM, with his own, 002 FGV.
Prime Minister John Howard has been drawn into the public debate about whether NT police overstepped the mark by identifying Mr Page and declaring him guilty.
"I think, on balance, the police are justified in doing what they've done," he told Brisbane radio station 4BC.
"If they didn't do what they've done, (if) something horrible ... were to occur, then the public would be down on them like a tonne of bricks."
But forensic psychologist Michael Diamond has urged police to lay off.
He argued Mr Page was more likely suffering from a mood disorder than becoming a dangerous psychopath.
"The dangerousness would really be through inappropriate dealing with him - actually terrifying him and forcing a showdown," Dr Diamond told the Seven Network.
============================================================
The father of a gunman accused of abducting two German tourists in remote Top End scrub has begged his son not to harm himself or anyone else.
Dr Rod Page, a Canberra academic, appealed through a media conference in Darwin to 31-year-old Queenslander Matt Page to surrender to police.
Police are convinced Matt Page is the gunman who fired a shot while abducting 50-year-old Nuremberg psychologist Eva Obermeyer and her 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, in Litchfield National Park.
He is understood to have stolen less than $100 cash before leaving them bound overnight to a tree with cable ties.
Dr Page, with Matt's younger brother, Brad, at his side, told his fugitive son that his family stood by him.
"Brad and I are now in Darwin, we are here close by to help you and support you," Dr Page said.
"And we beg you not to harm yourself or anyone else; we beg you Matt, talk to the police."
Dr Page, a 57-year-old Australian National University geologist, and his 29-year-old son, Brad, from Melbourne, flew to Darwin today to help the police manhunt.
Matt Page had been a steady family member and employee who lived with his grandparents at Harvey Bay until a few months ago, relative David Sutherland said.
Police have warned that he is armed with a several firearms and should be avoided at all costs.
Dr Sutherland, a NSW general practitioner, said the family feared that police treating him as a criminal rather than someone with a mental disorder could lead to tragedy.
He said Matt Page, an accomplished bushman, was probably now hiding in scrub.
"He would probably stay in the bush and I would say he'd be now fearful of the consequences and ashamed of what he's done," he told ABC radio.
"But in the middle of erratic behaviour it's hard to know how realistic he's thinking at this stage."
While Matt Page had no diagnosed mental condition, Dr Sutherland suspected he was suffering from depression.
Police concentrated their efforts on finding the 4WD they believe Matt Page was driving - a blue Toyota Landcruiser, Queensland registration 357 EZN.
It was stolen from Maryborough, near Hervey Bay, six weeks ago.
Police have received several reported sightings of either Mr Page or the Landcruiser but none had been confirmed.
Acting Police Commander Bert Hofer made no apology for taking the unusual step of publicly condemning a suspect as guilty.
"I don't think there's any doubt at all that the person we're seeking, Mr Page, is the person responsible," Cmdr Hofer said.
Australian Council for Civil Liberties president Terry O'Gorman accused the police of jeopardising Mr Page's chances of a fair trial because of their failure to solve the Falconio murder.
"Northern Territory police are under a fair bit of pressure because of all the background of the Falconio case," Mr O'Gorman said.
