Major breakthrough in Aussie cold case as police swoop over alleged murder of Meaghan Louise Rose almost 30 years after her death

The former partner of Queensland woman Meaghan Louise Rose has been arrested in relation to her alleged murder almost 30 years later. 

Keith Lees, 72, was arrested at a home on Kenthurst Road, in Dural in Sydney’s northwest, at 8am on Thursday. 

He was taken to Hornsby Police Station where he was charged with the warrant, as well as assault police officer in execution of duty without aggravated bodily harm, deal with identity information to commit etc indictable offence, and possess identity information to commit etc indictable offence.

NSW Police will allege in court the man attempted to bite an officer while in custody. 

Lees was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court on Friday. 

Queensland Police, who obtained an arrest warrant for Lees in July 2023, is expected to apply for his extradition from New South Wales. 

The arrest comes 27 years after the body of Meaghan Louise Rose, 25, was found at the foot of a PointCartwright cliff at Mooloolaba in southern Queensland in July, 1997.

More to come.