DPP Adam Kimber says he will meet grandparents of children allegedly murdered at Hillier
EXCLUSIVE: THE state’s top prosecutor will meet with the grandfather of two children slain at Hillier after he revealed he had no faith in the justice system, and had been “misled” about the case.
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THE state’s top prosecutor will meet with the grandfather of two children slain at Hillier after he revealed he had no faith in the justice system and had been “misled”.
On Thursday, Director of Public Prosecutions Adam Kimber, SC, said he had sought a meeting with Stephen Egberts following The Advertiser’s story two weeks ago.
However, he declined to discuss his investigation into Mr Egberts’ assertions that prosecutors had failed to show empathy over the deaths of Amber Rose Rigney and Korey Lee Mitchell.
“The Director has advised that it is not his practice to put into the public domain communications with victims,” his spokeswoman said. “Nor is it his practice to communicate with victims through the media ... no exception will be made in this instance. The Director has invited Mr Egberts and his partner to meet with him personally, and that invitation has been accepted.”
Mr Egberts’ partner, Janet Wells, confirmed the meeting would take place next week and said they would consider making comment afterwards.
“We’re so grateful to The Advertiser for facilitating this meeting — it wouldn’t have come about without the story,” she said. Amber, 6, Korey, 5, and their mother Adeline Wilson-Rigney, 28, were found dead at their home at Hillier, north of Gawler, in May 2016.
Steven Graham Peet, 31, pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Wilson-Rigney but denied murdering the children, claiming he was in a “disassociative state”. Prosecutors sought to challenge that claim with expert mental health evidence, resulting in the trial being postponed until January.
Two weeks ago, Mr Egberts and Ms Wells revealed prosecutors had not informed them of the delay, saying it was part of a pattern of “incompetence” and “an appalling lack of empathy”.
Also on Thursday, Ms Wilson-Rigney’s brother was released on bail to comfort their mother. The District Court granted Robert Rigney strict home detention bail to live at a Woodville Gardens address, under electronic monitoring.
Rigney, who is accused of aggravated intentionally causing serious harm, sparked headlines and bureaucratic red faces the last time he was bailed, in July 2016.
Having attended his sister’s funeral, Rigney twice attempted to surrender himself to authorities but was turned away. He was later sentenced to time already served.