Derek Bromley wins right to apply to appeal 30-year-old murder conviction in death of Stephen Docoza
AFTER more than 30 years proclaiming his innocence Derek Bromley will have his day in court with his appeal bound for a full sitting of the Supreme Court.
AFTER more than 30 years proclaiming his innocence, convicted murderer Derek Bromley will have a new day in court — with his appeal bound for a full sitting of the Supreme Court.
Bromley’s legal counsel and the prosecution will meet in May to confirm the full court hearing, which will involve reams of specialist evidence to show there is new and compelling evidence in the three-decade old death.
Three days of medical evidence has highlighted numerous discrepancies in the original autopsy report prepared by controversial former SA chief forensic pathologist, Dr Colin Manock.
Bromley and an accomplice, John Karpany, were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Stephen Docoza after the man’s body was found floating in the River Torrens.
From the outset police reported Docoza had been beaten and drowned following an altercation after Bromley asked the man for sex.
Dr Matthew Lynch from the Victorian Institute for Forensic Medicine said the bruises on Docoza’s scalp and forehead could have been caused after he was dead and in the river.
“There is nothing to distinguish whether he was alive or not when he went in the water,” Dr Lynch told the court.
Previous specialist testimony had shown that Dr Manock could not have ruled out natural causes when examining the body.
Bromley was given a non-parole period 32 years, the second longest in the state’s history at the time, and has always maintained his innocence.
While in custody he was implicated in a riot at Yatala Labor Prison in 1987 for which he was later awarded $7000 in damages for injuries he sustained at the hands of corrections.
He will never see the money with the funds being donated to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.