Alleged NCA bomber Domenic Perre asks court to release him on bail to serve drug sentence on home detention
Alleged NCA bomber Domenic Perre has made an unprecedented bid for bail – that could see his drug sentence converted to home detention.
Police & Courts
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NCA bombing accused Domenic Perre has asked a court to release him on bail – and to allow him to serve his three-year drug sentence on home detention.
The Advertiser has learned Perre’s bid for release – to be heard in the Supreme Court on Monday – has been prompted by significant health concerns.
It is understood that, during the SA lockdown, Perre experienced lung-related health issues and had to be rushed to hospital for treatment.
He remained there for several days – twice testing negative for COVID-19 – which saw his ongoing trial repeatedly delayed.
It is further understood doctors have expressed concerns that remaining in Yatala Labor Prison during the global pandemic exposes Perre to a high risk of fatality.
Perre, 63, has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder over the March 2, 1994, bombing.
Prosecutors allege that, motivated by “festering hatred”, Perre built and sent a parcel bomb to the NCA’s Adelaide office.
They allege almost three decades worth of police investigations prove Perre’s guilt.
In September, he was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for acting as guiding hand in a drug racket stretching across the Barossa, northern suburbs and Western Australia.
His non-parole period of six years and 10 days was backdated to his arrest on June 15, 2017 – leaving him with three years still to serve.
Perre’s bid for bail was filed with the Supreme Court on Wednesday, ahead of a hearing on Monday.
His application will not be decided by Justice Kevin Nicholson, who is hearing his trial, but another member of the Supreme Court bench.
A successful grant of bail would not see Perre released from Yatala, however.
Instead, it would result in a change to his status within the prison, potentially shifting him to a different area.
It would also allow him to make a further application to serve his drug sentence under home detention conditions.
It is at this stage unclear whether such an application would be decided by the court, the Department for Correctional Services or both, as the situation is without precedent.
Perre’s bail application will be heard on Monday morning, and his trial will resume that afternoon.
That trial is currently hearing legal argument about the admissibility of evidence, with witness testimony slated to begin from January 18.
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