After Sydney penthouse arrest, Ricardo Barbaro hits the road in a prison van
For 10 days Ricardo 'Rick' Barbaro eluded capture, fleeing across a state border to dodge police questioning over the death of Melbourne woman Ellie Price.
On Friday morning, Ricardo 'Rick' Barbaro, a fugitive no more, will return to Victoria after his dramatic arrest at a penthouse apartment overlooking the Parramatta River in Sydney's western suburbs on Thursday morning.
A Victoria Police prisoner transport vehicle believed to be carrying Ricardo Barbaro leaves the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills.Credit:Dallas Kilponen
The 33-year-old's disappearance prompted a nationwide manhunt after Ms Price's body was discovered inside her South Melbourne townhouse on May 4.
Police believe Ms Price's body may have lain undiscovered for close to a week.
Bruised from his arrest, Mr Barbaro was loaded into a Victoria Police prisoner transport vehicle about 7.30am on Friday.
Homicide squad detectives are expected to question Mr Barbaro when he arrives in Melbourne later today.
Ricardo Barbaro at Burwood Court in Sydney on Thursday. Credit:Joel Carrett
The then-fugitive was arrested inside a high-end Wentworth Point apartment complex following a tense standoff with police shortly before 1am on Thursday.
He sustained minor injuries during the arrest, believed to be from a collision with a mirror, and was taken to Concord Hospital for treatment.
He spent Thursday night inside the Sydney Police Centre after Parramatta Local Court granted a police application to extradite Mr Barbaro to Victoria for questioning over Ms Price's death earlier that day.
He failed to front the hearing but his lawyer said he did not oppose the application.
Ms Price's cousin Jay Bradford told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald that his family was relieved to hear Mr Barbaro had been arrested.
“I’m relieved to know there’s been an arrest so we might get some closure," he said on Thursday.
Mr Barbaro is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday.