Lucy Dudko

Lucy Dudko is a Russian-Australian woman convicted of hijacking a helicopter in 1999, which she used in the escape from Silverwater Correctional Complex of convicted armed robber John Killick. Dudko served time in the Mulawa Women's Prison from 1999 to 2006 before being released on parole.

Background Dudko was the mistress of John Killick (whom she had met at a party in the mid-1990s), who was being held on remand at Sydney's Silverwater Correctional Centre on charges of armed robbery. At the time, Dudko was residing with Killick's wife Gloria and visited Killick three times a week at his prison. During these meetings, Killick revealed a plan for Dudko to help him escape, having formed the idea of using a helicopter.

Once the helicopter was landed, Joyce was tied up and the couple hijacked a car to flee the location. Dudko and Killick remained on the run in both Victoria and New South Wales for 45 days. The escape made international headlines and has become one of the most famous counts of criminal activity in Australia during 1999. The actions also led to Dudko being dubbed "Red Lucy" by the media for her "crime of passion".

Capture and imprisonment On 8 May 1999 the couple, returning to Sydney to receive money from one of Killick's former acquaintances, was arrested at the Bass Hill Caravan Park, where they had rented a cabin as "Mr. and Mrs. MG Brown".

In popular culture John Kerr printed the story of the prison escape for the first time in the 2003 book Wanted: John & Lucy: Rescue by Force, Silverwater Prison, 25 March 1999.

The 2015 single "Long Loud Hours" by Australian hip hop musician Urthboy tells the story of Dudko's crime, sung from her perspective.

Life after prison As of 2009, Dudko was working at a Rydalmere factory and living in a one-bedroom flat at the base of the Blue Mountains.

A condition of Killick's parole upon his release from prison in 2015 was that he was not permitted to have any contact with Dudko until 2022 (when he will be 80 years old). However, in a later review of these terms, this condition was removed. Killick must still receive permission from his parole officer before making any contact with Dudko.