Bulletin: David Harold Eastman; Australia; His lawyer tells the Inquiry that the forensic evidence on which the prosecutions's case was "so critically dependent" has been "completely destroyed" - and a lawyer for the Australian Federal Police says a campaign of alleged police harassment was not linked to so-called "confessional utterances." Reporter Christopher Knaus; The Sydney Morning Herald;

 STORY: "Crucial forensics against Eastman "completely destroyed", inquiry hears, by reporter Christopher Knaus, published by the Sydney Morning Herald on May 14, 2007.

GIST:  "Lawyers for David Eastman say the forensic evidence upon which the case against their client was “so critically dependant” has been completely destroyed. But the Australian Federal Police has joined the Director of Public Prosecutions in arguing that, even without the forensics, an “incredible combination of facts” remained to prove Eastman killed the ACT’s police chief in 1989.........On Wednesday, Eastman’s counsel Mark Griffin, QC, and the AFP’s counsel Lionel Robberds, QC, gave closing submissions to inquiry head, Acting Justice Brian Martin. Mr Griffin started by taking aim at the work of the case’s most crucial forensic expert, Robert Collins Barnes, saying it was fair to say he completely lacked credibility and reliability. “It is difficult to imagine a case which has been so critically dependant on… the forensic work,” he said.“What is surprising to see is that that evidence, 20 years later, has been so completely destroyed.” Mr Griffin said there was a credible case to argue the expert had falsified records and was “less than truthful” with the inquiry......... Earlier, Mr Robberds argued that a campaign of alleged police harassment of Eastman was not linked with confessional utterances he made in his bugged home in 1990. Eastman was under a near-constant, lengthy surveillance campaign by police, and he regularly made complaints about their behaviour, alleging they were harassing him.  In June 1990, he made the first of a number of admissions that were picked up by recording devices in his home. The confessional material, which was used at trial, included utterances such as "he was the first man I ever killed" and "it was a beautiful thing one of the most beautiful feelings you've ever known"."

The entire story can be found atL

http://www.smh.com.au/act-news/crucial-forensics-against-eastman-completely-destroyed-inquiry-hears-20140514-zrc53.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 

Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
 
I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
 
http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
 
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Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;