A fugitive was found dead Thursday after a 13-hour standoff with police that locked down the business centre of Adelaide, a news report said.
Police had been hunting for former prison guard Rodney Clavell for two weeks until they cornered him at a massage parlour in the centre of the city at 1 am (1530 GMT).
Police closed down four city blocks while they tried to communicate with the wanted man who was believed to be armed, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.
Clavell would not answer phone calls and police used live TV and radio broadcasts to make direct appeals for him to give himself up.
After 11 hours four women emerged from the building in tears and were led away by police.
Two hours later police entered the building and found Clavell dead.
Clavell was a violent criminal who for a time was part of a right-wing Christian fundamentalist group.
In 2004 he led police in a slow—speed road chase when he hijacked a 12—ton road grader and threatened police with a gun as he drove at walking pace.
He was stopped in that incident when police shot him in the leg and shoulder.
