<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man accused of murdering his partner more than 27 years ago is due to face court after being extradited following a police manhunt across two states.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Keith Lees, 72, was flown from </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="" title="New South Wales"><span>New South Wales</span></a><span> to </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> in the company of detectives after a Sydney court granted his extradition yesterday over the death of Meaghan Louise Rose, 25, on the Sunshine Coast in 1997.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Queensland Homicide Cold Case Investigation Team obtained an arrest warrant for Lees in July 2023 after he allegedly disappeared following a conversation with detectives in Victoria.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/as-wildfires-rage-in-los-angeles-trump-doesnt-offer-much-sympathy-hes-casting-blame/42845f95-edf0-4c9a-9a26-e0ac9b63918a" target="_blank"><strong><span>As wildfires rage in Los Angeles, Trump doesn't offer much sympathy. He's casting blame</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lees was arrested on January 2 in a rural area northwest of Sydney and is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court today after spending the night in an adjacent police watch house.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rose's body was discovered on July 18, 1997 at the base of Point Cartwright Cliffs at Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The disability and aged care nursing assistant had previously moved from Victoria to Queensland with Lees, who was more than 20 years older than her.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/keith-lees-meaghan-louise-rose-man-to-face-court-for-partners-alleged-murder-in-1997/5b56673e-9804-4c27-893d-20def1afff8f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The death was initially ruled a suicide, but investigators reopened the case in 2009 and a $500,000 reward for information was announced in June 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jimmy-carter-funeral-former-us-president-honoured-with-washington-funeral-before-burial-in-georgia-hometown/839dbc34-9f98-4577-89d6-61bfaeae0da9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump and Obama reunite as Jimmy Carter honoured with Washington funeral</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In charges dropped by prosecutors yesterday, NSW Police alleged Lees spent roughly 18 months evading an arrest warrant by using a fake identity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland detectives travelled to Victoria in June 2023 and spoke to Lees, before his car was found abandoned at Portland on the state's southwest coast the following day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lees was later spotted in Geelong and Shepparton in Victoria before being arrested in Dural in NSW.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland Police have confirmed the $500,000 reward remains on offer for information that leads to a conviction for Rose's murder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In addition to the reward, an appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the crime, who first gives such information," they said in a statement yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" title="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div>