Pentridge developer lays claim to Ned Kelly's remains

THE developer of the former Pentridge Prison says he is the rightful owner of Ned Kelly's remains and wants compensation for the bushranger's bones.

Infamous bushranger Ned Kelly. Source: Herald Sun

Kelly's final burial, promised to descendants last year, has been delayed by the row.
The Herald Sun believes developer Leigh Chiavaroli has said Kelly's remains caused delays and cost blow-outs at his Pentridge Village housing development.
He has said the bones were found at a different location to where they were initially believed to be.
He has also claimed it was agreed all along that Kelly's remains would stay at Pentridge.
A permanent memorial or museum has been planned for Pentridge Village.
The remains are at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, where they were identified using DNA from a family member. After the remains were identified, Attorney-General Robert Clark decided they should be handed to Kelly's descendants for burial.
But that process has become complicated because the exhumation licence stated the remains would be returned to Pentridge.
The Herald Sun approached Mr Chiavaroli and Pentridge Village for comment yesterday, but there was no response.
RMIT adjunct professor Peter Norden, a former Pentridge chaplain, said any attempt to delay the return of the remains would be condemned.
"It is a national disgrace and a scandal," Mr Norden said, adding that almost without exception "most Australians would support (returning the remains to the family). Some would oppose it on the basis he killed police."
Mr Norden said no individual who could make money out of the remains should be an obstacle to their return to the family.
A spokesman for Mr Clark said the remains would be handed to the family.
"The Victorian Coalition Government stands by the commitment it made last November, and this process is continuing," spokesman James Copsey said.
After he was hanged in 1880, Kelly was buried at the Melbourne Gaol. His body was transferred to Pentridge in 1929 and exhumed in 2009.

heraldsun.com.au 23 Jun 2012

No one has the rights to anyones reamins other than family.

If the government allows for the possession of remains to be given to a 'developer' then this shows the real sad sate of governance.

The claim of 'compensation is ludacris.

Anyone wishing to make money from burried remains is low life grave robber.

Leigh Chiavaroli should have no troubles hidding or returing calls to the Herald Sun if there is no ethical dilemas in his actions.