Andrew Humpherson MP
Shadow Minister for Justice
The State Opposition is demanding the Iemma Government immediately explain the dropping of murder charges against a man who boasted that he would be treated favourably by the Attorney General's department.
"Alarm bells have been ringing for sometime about this case and it has panned out exactly as was feared," said Shadow Justice Minister Andrew Humpherson.
"As predicted by the man, who was jointly accused of murdering a north west Sydney six year old girl through a methadone overdose last year, the charge against him has been dropped," Mr Humpherson said.
The man spelled out in an email that he had previously had a beer with the third most senior figure in the Attorney General's department and that he and the child's mother "would get a favourable hearing as soon as practical because the department wants to put this case to bed as soon as possible".
ReplyDeleteThe murder charge has been dropped altogether against this man, another drug charge has been downgraded and a murder charge against the child's mother has also disappeared in favour of a count of manslaughter.
"A lot of questions need to be answered by the State Government about this case," said Mr Humpherson.
"Here we have two people charged with the murder of a child, walking around on bail, one of them boasting that someone high up in the Attorney General's department would ensure they got a "favourable hearing".
"There was clearly enough evidence in the beginning for police to bring murder charges against the child's mother and stepfather - now however they have been dropped without any explanation.
"This man knew before the courts even knew what the outcome would be," Mr Humpherson added.
"With so much controversy and public disquiet surrounding this case, the courts should be the place where these charges are tested.
"This poor child deserves at least that," Mr Humpherson concluded.