Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Bulletin: David Harold Eastman: Australia; Former Victorian Court of Appeal judge David Ashley appointed to hear his 'stay' application. "Mr Eastman was originally convicted of the killing in the 1990s and spent nearly 20 years behind bars. But last year an inquiry found he had not had a fair trial and he was released. The inquiry uncovered deep flaws in the forensic case against him. But prosecutors want a new trial, saying there is still a strong circumstantial case." ABC News.

"Former Victorian Court of Appeal judge David Ashley has been appointed to hear David Harold Eastman's application for a stay in proceedings relating to the murder of one of ACT's  (Australian Capital Territory)  top policemen. Mr Eastman is seeking a stay on charges he murdered assistant Australian Federal Police commissioner Colin Winchester in 1989. But the case has been in limbo since June, when Justice Anthony Whealy was disqualified over a possible perception of bias. Later that month Mr Eastman's barrister was also forced to retire, due to illness. Mr Eastman was originally convicted of the killing in the 1990s and spent nearly 20 years behind bars. But last year an inquiry found he had not had a fair trial and he was released. The inquiry uncovered deep flaws in the forensic case against him. But prosecutors want a new trial, saying there is still a strong circumstantial case. Mr Eastman's lawyers are seeking a stay on the charges, in part on the basis that he cannot get a fair trial after all of the media attention his case has attracted over the years."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-22/david-ashley-appointed-to-david-eastman-case/6638342