The Kelly gang had prepared well for the battle. They had made suits of armour from the mould board's of plough's, each about 100lbs in weight. Ned was wounded in the leg's, however, and taken prisoner. The police burned the hotel and later found the unidentifiable bodies of Dan Kelly and Steve Hart inside. Defiant Ned Kelly exclaimed "It was as good as Waterloo, wasn't it?". Ned was taken to Melbourne jail.

He was subsequently tried on 18th October 1880 by Sir Redmond Barry, and sentenced to death. He was hanged on November 11th 1880, aged 25 years. His last words were, "Such is life".