DPP to make decision on Raina Jane Cruise appeal, who scalped a pregnant police officer
A decision will be made today about whether a sentence handed to an anti-vaxxer who scalped a pregnant police officer will be appealed.
SA News
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The state’s top legal officer is facing calls to demand an appeal after an anti-vaxxer who scalped a pregnant police officer escaped with a suspended sentence.
But the government says it has already asked the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to advise on the likelihood of a successful appeal, and a decision on whether it will be lodged is due Friday.
Under state law, Attorney-General Kyam Maher has the power to direct the DPP to appeal a sentence.
On Thursday, the opposition called on Mr Maher to enact the provision and direct that an appeal be lodged against the sentence of Raina Jane Cruise.
Cruise was found guilty at trial of intentionally causing harm to Constable Anthea Beck on October 17, 2021. The District Court last week deemed her crimes inexcusable and worthy of a three-year, eight month sentence – but it was ultimately suspended to allow the 39-year-old to seek mental health help.
The sentence was widely condemned, including by SA Police.
Opposition police spokesman Jack Batty said “it has now been over a week since this soft sentence, and we’ve seen a lot of talk but no action from the government”.
“If the Attorney-General really wanted to stand against this despicable behaviour, he could have directed the DPP to appeal the sentence,” he said.
“Labor Attorneys-General have issued directions before, but this Labor Attorney-General seems reluctant to do it again when someone has violently assaulted a pregnant police officer and walked away without a single day in jail or paid a single cent in penalty.”
In the case of Paul Nemer, the state government intervened to appeal after Nemer was handed a three-year good behaviour bond over a 2001 shooting.
Mr Batty said no-one should be able to assault a police officer and get away with it.
“How are SAPOL expected to attract people to the force when they see these types of outcomes?” he said.
A government spokeswoman said the DPP has 21 days to appeal a sentence.
“The state government utterly condemns any assaults on police and emergency service workers, who put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe,” she said.
“Mr Batty must have been asleep at the wheel for the last week and is now playing catch-up. The Attorney-General raised this matter with the DPP a week ago.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions ... expects to have a decision on an appeal by close of business December 13.”
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