NCA bombing: SA prosecutors ‘leaving no stone unturned’ in their case against the accused Domenic Perre
PROSECUTORS are “leaving no stone unturned” in their case against 1994 NCA bombing accused Domenic Perre, telling a court they are even filing information and documents they would not normally provide.
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PROSECUTORS are “leaving no stone unturned” in their case against 1994 NCA bombing accused Domenic Perre, telling a court they are even filing information and documents they would not normally provide.
On Friday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court was told Perre’s case was, in the opinion of prosecutors, ready to be committed to trial the moment he was arrested and charged in March.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Sandi McDonald SC told the court she and her staff had, regardless of that belief, gone several steps further over the past four months.
“There were a number of other investigations that were, if you like, spin-offs from this case,” she said.
“We’ve been retrieving boxes of documents from courts, the Coroners Court and the like and producing schedules (of their contents) for defence counsel.
“This is the sort of material that would normally not be provided by the prosecution but, given the history and nature of this case, we are leaving no stone unturned.”
Perre, 61, is accused of murdering Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and attempting to murder lawyer Peter Wallis in the March 2, 1994 explosion on Waymouth St.
His arrest followed a two-and-a-half year cold case investigation, and came on the eve of the 24th anniversary of the bombing.
Perre was first arrested and accused of the bombing a week after the blast but, in late 1994, then-Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Rofe QC withdrew the charges.
Mr Rofe said, at the time, he did not believe there was sufficient evidence to secure a conviction - however, a subsequent coronial inquest found Perre was likely responsible.
On Friday, Ms McDonald said the only outstanding material that would normally be provided, to defence counsel, by her office were transcripts of conversations from 1994.
She said those transcripts would be ready “within weeks”.
James Noblett, for Perre, said he may need “considerable” time to review the material and consider his client’s position.
“We will be seeking at least a couple of months to digest this,” he said.
Magistrate Brett Dixon remanded Perre in custody until September.
