Published Monday, 17 December, 2007 at 03:43 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Report on Aurukun Prosecutor Expected Before The New Year: Shine
The review of the Cairns prosecution involved in the case of nine offenders who pleaded guilty to raping a 10-year-old girl at Aurukun will be completed by the end of December, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said today.
Mr Shine said the Executive Director of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Executive Director of the Office of the Public Service Commissioner, David Douglas, will travel to Cairns tomorrow to continue the review of Steve Carter’s submissions during the trial and the investigation into his conduct.
“What I want the review to establish is if the prosecutor received any advice or instructions from his supervisor or other staff of the DPP, who that person was, when he received the advice and what that advice and instruction was.”
“I am pleased to see Mr Douglas is involved in the review as this will help overcome concerns about the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reviewing itself.”
Mr Shine expected the DPP to provide a report on the findings of the review to the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General before the end of the year.
Mr Shine said he was very concerned by the sentences sought by Mr Carter.
“When I read the transcript of the prosecutor’s sentencing submissions I was horrified at the offending and the extremely lenient sentences sought,” Mr Shine said.
“I have already given the DDP an undertaking that the Government will provide whatever resources are necessary to ensure these sentences are vigorously appealed.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400, 0488 799 273
Mr Shine said the Executive Director of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Executive Director of the Office of the Public Service Commissioner, David Douglas, will travel to Cairns tomorrow to continue the review of Steve Carter’s submissions during the trial and the investigation into his conduct.
“What I want the review to establish is if the prosecutor received any advice or instructions from his supervisor or other staff of the DPP, who that person was, when he received the advice and what that advice and instruction was.”
“I am pleased to see Mr Douglas is involved in the review as this will help overcome concerns about the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reviewing itself.”
Mr Shine expected the DPP to provide a report on the findings of the review to the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General before the end of the year.
Mr Shine said he was very concerned by the sentences sought by Mr Carter.
“When I read the transcript of the prosecutor’s sentencing submissions I was horrified at the offending and the extremely lenient sentences sought,” Mr Shine said.
“I have already given the DDP an undertaking that the Government will provide whatever resources are necessary to ensure these sentences are vigorously appealed.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400, 0488 799 273