Michael Purse murder trial halted by secret document

In a sensational development, a murder trial has been derailed by a document so secret that lawyers have been ordered to destroy it after reading the contents.

A secret police document – one that must be destroyed after being read – has prompted the state’s top court to call off the trial of the third man accused of killing missing person Michael Purse.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court vacated the scheduled trial of Mark-Bry Andrew Leedham, who has denied any involvement in the alleged murder.

However, he remains in custody and charged with murder, and could go on trial before the end of this year.

The court’s decision follows unexpected guilty pleas, to the lesser charge of manslaughter, by Mr Leedham’s co-accused, Edwin James Hinrichsen and David Graham Young.

In court, prosecutors tendered an SA Police affidavit and asked that the court keep it sealed in its records and suppress its contents from publication.

They said copies had been provided to all three men’s lawyers on the condition they destroy it after reading it.

On Monday – the fourth anniversary of the last time Mr Purse was seen alive – Hinrichsen, 38, and Young, 41, pleaded not guilty to his murder but guilty to his manslaughter.

Their sudden confessions shocked and pleased Mr Purse’s family, who still hope it will lead to the discovery of his body.

Michael Purse was murdered in 2019, police believe.

Mr Leedham, 26, maintains he is not guilty of any crime over Mr Purse’s death, which prosecutors allege occurred at Kilburn in April 2021.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Chris Kourakis closed the court to the public to hear full submissions about the affidavit.

Upon opening the court, he announced he was formally vacating Mr Leedham’s trial.

“I do so in the interest of the proper administration of justice having regard to the fact that two of the accused have pleaded guilty to manslaughter and because police wish to undertake further investigations,” he said.

“Having indicated that, I see no reason to release the affidavit ... if I agreed it should be viewed, I would in all likelihood then make a suppression order.

“(I do this) because I am satisfied that the reasons I have given for vacating the trial properly satisfy the public interest in knowing why the trial has been vacated.”

Hinrichsen and Young will face sentencing submissions next month, when the future course of Mr Leedham’s case will also be discussed.

All three men remain in custody.

Outside court, Mr Purse’s father, Jeff, said it was “a little frustrating” that the case had yet to fully resolve.”

“It is a step forward and, as the Chief Justice discussed, we are ensuring that the process is followed for both the public and the offenders as well,” he said.

“It’s good that the police are still making inquires, that makes us feel better, and it’s certainly a relief that there have been two manslaughter pleas.”

He urged anyone with information about his son’s disappearance to make contact with police so that Mr Purse’s body could be found.

“You can never give up hope, it’s been four years and we still have hope,” he said.