Thursday, December 17, 2015

Bulletin: Australia; Graeme Jensen. 'The Age' reports that, "New evidence could spark fresh probe into notorious police slaying of Graeme Jensen."..."Bill Nash, who retired in 2010 after more than 30 years with Victoria Police, and fellow former detective Malcolm Rosenes, who left the force after being charged with drug trafficking, have provided affidavits that outline new details about the shooting. It is the first time Mr Nash has spoken out about the case. Rosenes claims that a rolled-up beach towel was used to dump a sawn-off .22 rifle at the feet of Jensen to make it appear he was armed when he was killed. Mr Nash identifies the officer who he believes provided the gun. Jensen, 33, was shot in the back of the head while fleeing armed robbery squad police in Narre Warren. Only 13 hours later, police officers Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were murdered as payback for Jensen's killing after an ambush in Walsh Street, South Yarra."..." Only 13 hours later, police officers Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were murdered as payback for Jensen's killing after an ambush in Walsh Street, South Yarra. Lawyers for Fay Spear, Jensen's sister, lodged the affidavits as part of an application to the coroner to set aside a previous finding that Jensen was armed when he died. The application must provide fresh and cogent evidence if it is to be granted. If the application is granted, a new inquest may be held, which could in turn spark a fresh police investigation."

"New information has come to light regarding the 1988 police shooting of Graeme Jensen.  It was the police shooting of a notorious bank robber that sparked a wave of wanton violence and the broadest corruption probe since the revolutionary Beach inquiry. And now an explosive statement from a respected former detective could force a new murder investigation into the shooting of Graeme Jensen. Jensen was killed during an attempted arrest by armed robbery squad detectives who claimed he was armed when he was fatally shot in 1988. Bill Nash, who retired in 2010 after more than 30 years with Victoria Police, and fellow former detective Malcolm Rosenes, who left the force after being charged with drug trafficking, have provided affidavits that outline new details about the shooting. It is the first time Mr Nash has spoken out about the case. Rosenes claims that a rolled-up beach towel was used to dump a sawn-off .22 rifle at the feet of Jensen to make it appear he was armed when he was killed. Mr Nash identifies the officer who he believes provided the gun. Jensen, 33, was shot in the back of the head while fleeing armed robbery squad police in Narre Warren. Only 13 hours later, police officers Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were murdered as payback for Jensen's killing after an ambush in Walsh Street, South Yarra. Lawyers for Fay Spear, Jensen's sister, lodged the affidavits as part of an application to the coroner to set aside a previous finding that Jensen was armed when he died. The application must provide fresh and cogent evidence if it is to be granted. If the application is granted, a new inquest may be held, which could in turn spark a fresh police investigation. Eight armed robbery squad officers were charged in relation to Jensen's death, but only charges against Robert Hill – who is now an Assistant Commissioner – proceeded to trial. He was acquitted of murder, but it is believed that changes to Victorian double jeopardy laws passed in 2011 could pave the way for a new trial if it is found key witnesses gave false evidence. Another officer who was charged, Homicide squad detective John Hill, committed suicide before he faced court charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.........Lawyers from Flemington andKensington community legal centre would not comment on why Mr Nash decided to come forward. It is understood the affidavits include material that gives new insights into evidence that was presented during the previous trial and inquest. "If Malcolm Rosenes had described what he witnessed to the coroner at the time of the original inquest, [and if the coroner] had been presented with the other new evidence, the coroner may have made a different finding," Tamar Hopkins, the principal solicitor at the legal centre, said.........Rosenes has previously claimed that former detective Rodney Grimshaw planted the gun on Jensen. Mr Hill was charged with murdering Jensen after he fired two shots at his car from his shotgun. The case focused on whether the second shot fired by Mr Hill, which struck Jensen in the head, was unlawful. The police involved in the incident said they tried to arrest Jensen as part of an investigation into the fatal shooting of a security guard, but he attempted to flee and pointed the sawn-off rifle over his shoulder to fire at them as he did so. The corruption probe into the officers involved was widespread, and suspicions remain about other police shootings from the period, including the deaths of Mark Militano, Jedd Houghton, Frank Valastro and Gary Abdallah, who were all linked to the infamous Pettingill clan."

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-evidence-could-spark-fresh-probe-into-notorious-police-slaying-of-graeme-jensen-20151217-glq2ig.html