Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Graham Stafford: Australia; Police’s only suspect in murder of schoolgirl Leanne Holland wants a coronial inquest into her death..." Mr Stafford, who at the time was dating Leanne’s sister Melissa, served 14 years’ jail before his 1992 murder conviction was quashed. He has always maintained his innocence. “I have no fears what would be dug up in a coroner’s inquest,” Mr Stafford told The Sunday Mail." The Courier-Mail


STORY: "Police’s only suspect in murder of schoolgirl Leanne Holland wants a coronial inquest into her death," by reporter Thomas Chamberlin, published on April 2, 2016, by the Courier-Mail.

PHOTO CAPTION:  "Graham Stafford on the beach near his home at Mooloolaba. Stafford has been cleared of murdering schoolgirl Leanne Holland."


GIST:  "The  man who went to trial over the murder of schoolgirl Leanne Holland has called for a coronial inquest into her death, despite police saying he is the only suspect. Graham Stafford, 52, told The Sunday Mail an inquest would give answers into the death of the 12-year-old Goodna girl who was murdered in 1991. Leanne’s body was found partly naked and dumped in bushland in Redbank Plains, about 10km from her home. Mr Stafford, who at the time was dating Leanne’s sister Melissa, served 14 years’ jail before his 1992 murder conviction was quashed. He has always maintained his innocence. “I have no fears what would be dug up in a coroner’s inquest,” Mr Stafford told The Sunday Mail.........After Mr Stafford’s conviction was quashed in 2009, the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial but the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions refused..........A 2012 police report found there was enough evidence to send him back to trial. However, the DPP ruled it out and said it was not in the public interest. Former attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie then sought independent legal advice which found there was basis for prosecution but it was not worth pursuing charges. Mr Stafford said police had refused to release the 2012 report through a Right to Information request, stating it was legally privileged, and he had since lodged an appeal. “They have what they claim is the opportunity to take me back to court and bolster the case, and they don’t even want to discuss it,” Mr Stafford said." 
 
The entire story can be found at:

 http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/leanne-holland-murder-clues/story-e6freoof-1111114213137

See the Wikipedia account: "Stafford was released in June 2006 after serving over 14 years in prison. Stafford, who was born in England and does not have Australian citizenship despite having migrated to Australia in 1969, faced deportation in November 2006. Some people, including Professor Paul Wilson of Bond University believe that Stafford is a victim of a miscarriage of justice. The Queensland Attorney-General, Kerry Shine, has agreed to closely consider any request on Stafford's behalf concerning a petition to clear him of the murder conviction. In April 2008, the Queensland Attorney-General referred the case to the Court of Appeal for a very rare second appeal for pardon. On 24 December 2009 the Court of Appeal overturned Graham Stafford's conviction and ordered a retrial by a 2-1 majority. The dissenting judge wanted an immediate acquittal. On 26 March 2010 the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions, Tony Moynihan SC announced there would be no new trial of Graham Stafford for the murder of Leanne Holland......The following evidence was available and called to the court's attention in the 1997 appeal.
  • Evidence demonstrating that Graham Stafford could not have committed the murder at the time when the Crown contended he had had the opportunity to do so was available to police at the time. This included transcripts of interviews with four separate witnesses and a shopping docket and car wash receipt showing incompatible times.
  • Experts disputed that the blood evidence was consistent with the Crown's case due to the lack of a substantial amount of blood and the lack of a foul smell from the boot.
  • The hair found on a sponge in Stafford's car boot was not found by the officer taking evidence. It was found during a laboratory examination after the sponge had been on the floor.
  • The time of death based on the maggot's development was changed to Tuesday morning from the original Wednesday evening estimate due to an incorrect ambient temperature reading. Stafford was at work on the Tuesday.
  • The trial judge referred to "large quantities of blood" around the house. This is inconsistent with the very small amount of blood found in the bathroom, which was consistent with ordinary household use.
  • Several relevant pieces of information relating to the tyre tracks and the missing hammer were either not presented or were misrepresented during the trial. The type of tyre tracks found at the murder scene was also quite common.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Stafford

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

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.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.
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