Notorious Sydney gangster Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith has died in jail aged 76.
The murderer and drug dealer had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 1980s and had dementia, ABC News reports. “It’s understood he died of natural causes,” the news site reported.
A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman confirmed his death on Wednesday night.
“A 76-year-old has died at Long Bay Hospital about 5.20pm today,” she said, ABC News reports. “Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police are investigating the incident. All deaths in custody are subject to a coronial inquest.”
Smith, who spent more than 40 years in jail, was serving a life sentence for the murder of Sydney tow truck driver Ronald Flavell in October 1987 and the 1983 murder of brothel-keeper Harvey Jones. Smith was charged with five other murders.
It was widely known that he made money from dealing heroin and was a frequent bank robber. Smith was immortalised in the 1995 miniseries Blue Murder, which featured his crimes and friendship with former police officer Roger Rogerson, who is currently serving life in jail for the murder of drug dealer Jamie Gao.
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