<div dir="ltr">Quite. A very dangerous precedent. An obvious stitch up and national disgrace. Another one. </div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, 21 Mar 2019 at 18:34, Rob Waterhouse <<a href="mailto:robbie@robwaterhouse.com">robbie@robwaterhouse.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div lang="EN-AU"><div class="gmail-m_-4373793184873730778WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:19pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">THE AUSTRALIAN<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:27pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;color:black">Pell case attracts inaccurate views<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">GERARD HENDERSON<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">R v George Pell was one of the highest-profile cases in the history of criminal law in<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Australia. Similar in its news impact to Lindy Chamberlain</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s conviction (followed by<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">acquittal) in the 20th century and Ned Kelly</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s conviction (followed by hanging) in the 19th<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">century.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">As such, it is more important than usual for reporters and commentators to be factual </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">—</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">especially in view of the international attention the case has attracted. Unfortunately, the<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">coverage so far has had many blemishes </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">—</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> which go to a basic misunderstanding of the law<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">and how it operates.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">On Wednesday, ABC TV</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s </span><i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">The Drum </span></i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">devoted the first half of the program to a discussion<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">on Pell</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s sentencing, following his conviction in December last year by a jury of 12.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Victoria, unlike such jurisdictions as NSW and Queensland, does not provide for trial by<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">judge alone.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Early in </span><i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">The Drum</span></i><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s discussion, presenter Craig Reucassel said emphatically that </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">a judge<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">and 12 individuals have found him guilty</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">. This is hopelessly wrong.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">If Reucassel had studied Chief Judge Peter Kidd</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s sentencing remarks, he would know that,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">early on, the judge had this to say: </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">I must at law give full effect to the jury</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s verdict; it is<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">not for me to second-guess the verdict.</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Later on, when referring to the matter that the spontaneous attacks took place at St Patrick</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Cathedral in a room with the door open, he said: </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">If I am required to identify other<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">By </span><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;color:black">GERARD HENDERSON</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">, </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:black">COLUMNIST<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:ArialMT;color:black">12:00AM MARCH 16, 2019<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">explanations as to why you (Pell) were prepared to take on the risk of somebody walking in<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">on you into the priests</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> sacristy, then I do.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">By the jury</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s verdict, this offending occurred, and no one walked into the priests</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> sacristy<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">while you were offending. These are the facts which I must act on.</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">In other words, Kidd made it clear </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">—</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> and properly so </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">—</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> that his role as the trial judge is to<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">accept the jury</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s verdict as fact without second-guessing its decision.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Reucassel should have known this, as should his producer, who could have advised an onair<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">correction but apparently did not.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">In the discussion, panellist Shivani Gopal claimed that Pell offending against one of the<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">boys, called </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">R</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">, resulted in his death. In fact, the sentencing judge said that </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">it is common<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">ground between the parties that R</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s death is not related to the offending against R</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Reucassel did correct this error. However, he said nothing when Gopal criticised Pell</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s sixyear<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">sentence as too soft, claiming that white-collar criminals </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">go to jail for life</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">This is mere hyperbole and quite unfair to Kidd. It can always be argued that a particular<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">sentence is too soft or too hard. However, it seems in this case the sentence was about right<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">for the charges on which the jury found the defendant guilty.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Pell would have received a shorter sentence if he had pleaded guilty but he maintains his<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">innocence and his appeal will be heard by the Victorian Court of Appeal in early June.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Without regard to the sentence, it is important to remember that Kidd said that Pell had led<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">an otherwise blameless life in the 22 years since the offending</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> in 1996. He also referred to<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Pell</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">otherwise good character</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">The errors in commentary about R v George Pell did not stop at the ABC. Just after the<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">sentencing findings were handed down, Derryn Hinch tweeted that the judge </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">saw right<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">through him (Pell)</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">. This despite the fact that Kidd had said that, by law, he had to accept<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">the jury</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s decision.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Then on Thursday, Ray Hadley led off his high-rating 2GB/4BC program with the claim<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">that Pell</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s appeal would only be with respect to law, not facts. Two out of three matters<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">involve questions of law. However, the principal grounds of appeal are that the verdicts are<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">unreasonable having regard to the evidence. Pell</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s appeal grounds are contained in a public<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">document that is available to Hadley and all his listeners. There is no excuse for error.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Graham Richardson normally talks a lot of sense. But he was not in the best of form at the<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">start of his Sky News program </span><i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Richo </span></i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">on Wednesday.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Richardson claimed that, with respect to Pell, </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">there</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s been this massive effort with silence<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">orders and things to try and make no one have an idea about what</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s going on</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">. He added: </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">I<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">mean, if you</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">re George Pell, you can get that. I think that if I was on trial for pedophilia<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">tomorrow, I</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">d have Buckley</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s at having my name removed </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">…</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> I think everyone would be<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">speaking it. It</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s just something I think the church has handled badly for so long.</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">In fact the suppression orders in the Pell case were issued by the Victorian County Court<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">and were supported by the Office of Public Prosecutions.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">They were designed to make it possible for Pell to get a fair trial in a subsequent case. This<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">prosecution was dropped by the Victorian OPP when it determined that there was<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">insufficient evidence for a conviction </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">—</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> and the suppression order was lifted.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">In any event, suppression orders do not work in the age of social media.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Moreover, I am aware of one suppression order in a current pedophile case where the<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">defendant is neither well known nor a Catholic.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">It is to be hoped that ill-informed media comment dissipates in the lead-up to the appeal.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">This is likely to be one of the most important legal cases in recent years.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">As </span><i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">The Age</span></i><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">’</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">s crime reporter John Silvester has put it, the Court of Appeal has to consider<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">whether a verdict is safe in a case where the defendant </span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">“</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">was found guilty beyond reasonable<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">doubt on the uncorroborated evidence of one witness, without forensic evidence, a pattern<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">of behaviour or a confession.</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(51,51,51)">”</span><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Whatever the outcome of the appeal, this decision will set a precedent of far greater<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">significance than either the Chamberlain or Kelly cases.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Gerard Henderson is executive director of the Sydney Institute. His Media Watch Dog blog<u></u><u></u></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:15pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">can be found at <a href="http://theaustralian.com.au" target="_blank">theaustralian.com.au</a>.<u></u><u></u></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:black">GERARD HENDERSON, COLUMNIST<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Gerard Henderson is an Australian author, columnist and political commentator. He is the Executive<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Director of the Sydney Institute, a privately funded Australian current affairs forum. His Media Watch<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Dog colu... </span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:TimesNewRomanPSMT;color:rgb(39,127,157)">Read more</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Racing <<a href="mailto:racing-bounces@ausrace.com" target="_blank">racing-bounces@ausrace.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b><a href="mailto:norsaintpublishing@gmail.com" target="_blank">norsaintpublishing@gmail.com</a><br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, 21 March 2019 5:43 PM<br><b>To:</b> AusRace Racing Discussion List <<a href="mailto:racing@ausrace.com" target="_blank">racing@ausrace.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [AusRace] The SP, a shark, and the long arm of the Law<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">"The defence argued that this information was hearsay, (it needs<br>corroboration to be admitted), and so it's inadmissible as it is."<u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Which places the conviction of George Pell in its proper context. <u></u><u></u></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Thu, 21 Mar 2019 at 17:13, Tony Moffat <<a href="mailto:tonymoffat@bigpond.com" target="_blank">tonymoffat@bigpond.com</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p></div><blockquote style="border-top:none;border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:1pt solid rgb(204,204,204);padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 6pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0cm"><p class="MsoNormal">When fishing off a small boat just outside the breakers at Coogee a 14 foot<br>tiger shark was snared.<br>That is big, and on braid, it being pre-nylon in 1935 when this happened.<br>The shark was trailed ashore and taken over by the aquarium nearby. <br><br>The shark disgorged a complete human arm and had not eaten anything  while<br>being observed.<br><br>The arm had tattoos of two boxers, the hands were fingerprinted and these<br>matched SP Jimmy Smith.<br><br>There was a summation that Smith had cheated on other crime figures, not SP<br>related though, and that Reginald Holmes<br>was involved, and further, Smith had been lured to a seaside house to meet<br>Patrick Brady and Brady had been recruited by<br>Holmes to murder Smith. The arm was severed from the body, and shown as<br>proof of the deed most foul having been completed, and the arm was <br>thrown in the sea to dispose of it, and this allows the entry of the shark<br>to this story.<br><br>Later, on the harbour now, the Police were called to the matter of an out of<br>control launch and on this launch the found<br>Holmes with a bullet wound, to the head. Holmes maintained he had been shot<br>by an unknown man, and again there was a summation that <br>Holmes had meant to suicide but this failed, it has to be said, and Holmes<br>was treated by a nurse and allowed to go home.<br><br>Brady gave  series of statements and records or interview to Police,  and<br>Detectives charged Brady with murder, of Smith.<br><br>Later, before the inquest of the presence of the arm, Holmes was found dead<br>at Dawes Point, near the Bridge, murdered<br>by shooting, 3 times under the heart with a .32" calibre firearm.<br><br>Holmes widow told the inquest that her husband told her that Brady killed<br>Smith, no specifics known.<br><br>The defence argued that this information was hearsay, (it needs<br>corroboration to be admitted), and so it's inadmissible as it is.<br>Further, an arm did not constitute a body, and Smith may well be alive,<br>without his arm. Although not habeas corpus, it kind of is.<br><br>Brady was acquitted after inquest evidence was allowed and admitted. <br><br>Smith was a SP in a South Coast town, the other SP was the Undertaker. Apart<br>from his perceived dislike by Holmes, Smith appears harmless.<br><br>Cheers<br><br>Tony<br><br><br>---<br>This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.<br><a href="https://www.avg.com" target="_blank">https://www.avg.com</a><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Racing mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Racing@ausrace.com" target="_blank">Racing@ausrace.com</a><br><a href="http://ausrace.com/mailman/listinfo/racing_ausrace.com" target="_blank">http://ausrace.com/mailman/listinfo/racing_ausrace.com</a><u></u><u></u></p></blockquote></div></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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