Bushranger Kelly’s bones identified 130 years on

Forensic experts have confirmed human remains found buried in an old box are those of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly, who was hanged 130 years ago.

After an exhaustive 20-month investigation through historic and genetic records, scientists and doctors yesterday revealed that an almost complete skeleton found buried in a wooden axe box at the old Pentridge Prison in Melbourne were those of the famous outlaw, who was executed in 1880, aged 25.

A DNA sample taken from Melbourne school teacher Leigh Olver, who is Ned’s sister Ellen’s great-grandson, confirmed the remains were those of Kelly.

The presence of Kelly’s remains at Pentridge Prison had been long rumoured but never confirmed, until now.

Kelly’s remains were mixed in an unmarked grave among those of 33 others exhumed at Pentridge in 2009.

His skull was stolen from a glass display case at the Old Melbourne Gaol in 1978 – the mystery surrounding its whereabouts sparking the investigation that led to the discovery.

Describing police-killer Kelly as “one of the most controversial characters” in Australia’s national history, Victoria’s attorney-general Robert Clark said it was a remarkable achievement by forensic teams in Australia and around the world.

“To think a group of scientists could identify the body of a man who was executed more than 130 years ago, moved and buried in a haphazard fashion among 33 other prisoners, most of whom are not identified, is amazing,” he said.

The exhaustive forensic analysis was carried out by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, in collaboration with a forensic laboratory specialising in ancient DNA in Argentina.

It included input from historians, pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists, radiologists, and ballistics and DNA experts.

Mr Clark said the analysis revealed Kelly’s remains were among those transferred from the Old Melbourne Gaol, where Kelly was hanged, to Pentridge in 1929 and exhumed in 2009.

The forensic institute’s deputy director, Professor David Ranson, confirmed the remains were Kelly’s: “It’s been a piece of great work for the team and we’ve really enjoyed engaging in a bit of history, as well as an important piece of forensic science.

“The wear and tear of the skeleton is a little bit more than would be expected for a 25-year-old today,” Prof Ranson added. “But such was Ned’s life, this is hardly surprising.”

The investigation was launched in November 2009 when West Australian farmer Tom Baxter handed a skull to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine he claimed was Kelly’s. Mr Baxter said he had been in possession of the skull for years.

As well as trying to identify the skull, forensic experts began trying to identify Ned Kelly’s remains from among the remains exhumed at Pentridge.

Through a series of CT scans, X-rays, pathology, odontology and anthropology tests plus extensive historical research and DNA analysis, the team was able to positively identify the remains, although they concluded the skull itself was not Kelly’s.

Clues included gunshot wounds Kelly was known to have sustained. Some key body features, including a distinguishing wrist injury suffered at the final shoot-out the Kelly gang had with the police – the Glenrowan siege – helped with identification. One gunshot pellet was still embedded in a bone.

The identification was completed when a DNA sample taken from Mr Olver was compared to a DNA sample taken from the remains.

“It’s such a great relief to finally have this side of the story resolved,” Mr Olver said.

“I think a lot of Australians connect with Ned Kelly and they’re proud of the story of Ned Kelly,” Olver said. “In our family, he was a hero.”

Consultations will begin shortly with Kelly’s family over a final resting place.

Investigations into the skull Mr Baxter handed into the institute continue.