In short:
A prolific offender who was given a life sentence in the 1990s for murder and armed robberies around Australia will spend at least another five years in jail.
asserted
who → give → jail
Alexander Robert Macdonald has been sentenced for stealing $96,000 from two banks in regional New South Wales in 1996 and 1997.
asserted
Macdonald → sentence → 1996
Brett Charlsley still vividly remembers the moment he was taken hostage at gunpoint in a regional New South Wales bank in 1997.
asserted
he → remember → 1997
The now 65-year-old was in the Port Macquarie District Court today, watching the man responsible for the terrifying ordeal receive his sentence.
Mr Charlsley said when Alexander Robert Macdonald walked into the courtroom for sentencing, he immediately recognised him.
asserted
he → watch → him
"I knew that voice [from] when he told me to walk in front of him,"Mr Charlsey said.
asserted
Charlsey → know → front
In March this year, Macdonald was arrested and charged with historical offences while serving time at Borallon Correctional Centre in Queensland.
asserted
Macdonald → arrest → Queensland
He pleaded guilty in August this year to two counts of robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon and two charges of detain for advantage without causing injury to the victim.
asserted
He → plead → victim
The court heard Macdonald stole a total of $96,000 from two banks at Coonabarabran and Laurieton in 1996 and 1997.
asserted
Macdonald → hear → 1996
The bandit was armed with a sawn-off, double-barrel shotgun at both robberies.
asserted
bandit → arm → robberies
Mr Charsley was working in the Laurieton branch when he was taken hostage, but was released when the offender reached his getaway car.
asserted
offender → work → car
"The next day I was dwelling on it; I was thinking, what if he had of shot me?" he said.
asserted
he → dwell → me
During sentencing, Judge Michael King told the court Macdonald was motivated by his desire to continue his criminal lifestyle.
asserted
Macdonald → tell → lifestyle
"There are so many [offences] that I have not bothered to count," Judge King said.
asserted
King → be → ?
Macdonald began his life of crime in the late 1970s, when he started robbing banks, hotels and service stations around the country.
asserted
he → begin → country
The court heard Macdonald killed a man in Western Australia to assume his identity, while he remained on the run after escaping prison in Queensland.
asserted
he → hear → Queensland
He remained one of Australia's most wanted for the next two years, until a tip-off by a member of the public led to his arrest in Victoria in June 1997.
asserted
off → remain → June
During the period he was at large, Macdonald stole $240,000 by holding up banks in regional Queensland.
asserted
Macdonald → steal → Queensland
Killing for new identity
According to court documents, in January 1996, Macdonald put an ad in the newspaper under the fake name Paul Jacobs.
uncertain
Macdonald → kill → name
Macdonald was advertising a position in the mining industry and interviewed several applicants until he found someone who looked like himself.
asserted
who → advertise → himself
In late February 1996, Macdonald took Ronald Joseph Williams to Cheynes Beach in Western Australia for a "fishing trip".
asserted
Macdonald → take → trip
He shot Mr Williams twice in the head and buried his body in the sand dunes.
asserted
He → shoot → dunes
According to court documents, Macdonald admitted to murdering Mr Williams to assume his identity.
uncertain
Macdonald → accord → identity
"It was something that had to be done," he told police.
asserted
he → have → police
"I simply shut off, turned off my emotions, and I did what I had to do."
asserted
I → shut → what
Macdonald continued to make deposits into Mr Williams's bank account until June 1997, when he was arrested by the armed robbery squad in Victoria.
asserted
he → continue → Victoria
In 1998, Macdonald was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum 25-year non-parole period after he was found guilty of wilful murder, deprivation of liberty and armed robbery.
asserted
he → sentence → liberty
Macdonald was transferred from Western Australia to a jail in Queensland in 2021.
asserted
Macdonald → transfer → 2021
He was extradited to New South Wales this year.
asserted
He → extradite → Wales
Sentence brings closure
asserted
Sentence → bring → closure
Judge King today sentenced Macdonald to a further eight years in jail, with a non-parole period of five years.
asserted
King → sentence → years
Mr Charlsley said the sentencing had provided some closure.
asserted
sentencing → say → closure
"I think looking at him, at how frail he was and the illnesses he has, it's an appropriate sentence," he said.
asserted
he → think → was
Macdonald, who represented himself in court, used the opportunity to reflect on the robberies.
asserted
who → represent → robberies
"I do appreciate being confronted by a robber with a sawn-off shotgun has a significant impact to the victims," he said.
asserted
he → appreciate → victims
The Aporia