Man charged with murder after body found in shallow grave near Dural

A man has been charged with murder after the body of a man linked to Sydney’s drug trade was found partially buried in a paddock on the city’s north-western fringe last week.

James French, 24, was arrested on Sunday afternoon after being discovered by police asleep in a vehicle outside a Glenorie home, and was charged in connection with the death of Johnny Birch, who was discovered partially buried in a paddock near a separate Glenorie home on March 14.

French has been refused bail, and will appear before court on Monday.

Police were directed to the body of Birch, 39, by a family member, who had reported him missing about 9pm the previous evening.

A manhunt had been taking place around the ordinarily quiet suburb of Dural since. Police established crime scenes at the paddock and a nearby home on the day of the body’s discovery, and specialist and forensic officers were deployed to examine the area.

The Hills Police Area Commander Superintendent Naomi Moore said police had been looking for French for several days before finding him at a home they’d previously searched as part of investigations.

“It’s an address that’s known to us and known to him … today it was part of our follow-up, we went there and located him in a vehicle sleeping on the property,” Moore said.

“These people were known to each other, it was not a random attack.”

Moore wouldn’t rule out further arrests in connection with Birch’s death.