David Harold Eastman: Inquiry report; Aftermath 1: Michael Inman reports that a mafia link in the killing of the assistant police commissioner could have saved Eastman at trial. Canberra Times.

STORY: "Mafia link could have saved Eastman at trial," by reporter Michael Inman,  published by Michael Inman, Courts Reporter for the Canberra Times on May 30, 2014.

GIST: "Alleged mafia involvement in the killing of assistant police commissioner Colin Winchester was probed during the inquiry, but much of the evidence was taken in closed hearings and ordered to be kept secret. Inquiry boss acting Justice Brian Martin admitted in his findings that he had heard “material pointing to an alternative hypothesis consistent with innocence, the strength of which is unknown”. The judge said the fresh evidence added a “new dimension” to the Mafia’s involvement, and lifted “suspicion to the level of a reasonable hypothesis consistent with the [Eastman’s] innocence”. “If this evidence had been available at the time of the trial … it would have been of significant assistance to the defence in endeavouring to advance the alternative hypothesis concerning the identity of the offender,” Justice Martin wrote.........For years, an alternative hypothesis for the homicide involved mafia figures taking revenge for Mr Winchester's role in double-crossing members of the 'Ndrangheta over the development of a cannabis crop at Bungendore. Mr Winchester had been involved in an intelligence operation in which he posed as a corrupt cop. The trial of those involved in that drug crop had been only a month away at the time of his death. But defence lawyers for the mafia members gave evidence at a coronial inquest that they had intended to call Mr Winchester during the trial as part of their defence of police authorisation. In his report, Justice Martin said the hypothesis – in the absence of the fresh material heard during the inquiry – suffered from major defects, including the lack of hard evidence linking members of the mafia group to the murder."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.smh.com.au/act-news/mafia-link-could-have-saved-eastman-at-trial-20140530-zrtjq.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 

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Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;