Peter Malinauskas won’t take the stand in political blackmail saga involving former MP Annabel Digance
A court says the Opposition Leader won’t have to give evidence in the blackmail case involving former MP Annabel Digance.
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South Australian opposition leader Peter Malinauskas has finally learnt whether he must take the stand in a blackmail trial.
Former Labor MP Annabel Digance and her husband Greg have been accused of extorting Mr Malinauskas.
In a surprise legal move, the couple tried to make him give evidence in the trial.
They wanted the Labor leader to explain why he wore a wire and covertly recorded them before sending the clips to the police, claiming it was illegal.
The Strathalbyn couple also tried to get ALP state secretary Reggie Martin cross-examined.
But their applications were shot down in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday.
Ahead of the decision, the couple’s lawyer demanded to know why Mr Malinauskas recorded them.
He read aloud parts of the recorded conversation, giving the court its first glimpse of the tape.
The court heard Mr Digance asked the Labor leader whether he was recording the conversation, to which he replied: “It’s my phone.”
Mr Digance then said: “It’s all right. Just making sure. I know a person has tried to record one of my conversations before in an election polling booth … It’s illegal.”
His lawyer told the court questions still remained about whether Mr Malinauskas acted lawfully by recording the conversation, saying it was important to “pin him down” for an explanation.
Prosecutor Jemma Litster opposed the application to make Mr Malinauskas take the stand.
She said his written statements were “concrete and detailed” and forcing him to give oral evidence would be irrelevant.
Police allege the Digances threatened Mr Malinauskas in early 2020, in apparent attempts to politically wound him ahead of an election and secure Mrs Digance’s return to politics.
The former MP, who served in parliament from 2014 to 2018, was arrested alongside her husband in April.
The blackmail case will return to court next week.
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Originally published as Peter Malinauskas won’t take the stand in political blackmail saga involving former MP Annabel Digance
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