The Snitch: Former judge finds out we’re all Equal before the law
When former judge Michael Finnane — who sentenced Bilal Skaf to 55 years in jail — went to Goulburn Supermax jail in the past, he was usually greeted with tea and biscuits. But now a barrister representing crime figure Bassam Hamzy, during a security check even his Equal sweetener pills were confiscated.
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What standing do you have to reach in society to be allowed to bring artificial sweetener tablets inside Goulburn’s Supermax jail?
Turns out you can cross retired District Court judge off the list.
We know this because ex-judge Michael Finnane had his Equal tablets taken off him by prison guards on a recent trip to Supermax.
Finnane, who as a judge sentenced gang rapist Bilal Skaf to 55 years in jail, had to drop into the prison for a legal visit with Bassam Hamzy because he is now working as a barrister for the notorious crime figure.
But when going through a security check at the prison, the screws didn’t give him an inch and confiscated his zero-calorie sweetening pills.
We’re told Finnane was fortunate enough to receive tea and biscuits on prior visits to the jail, so the prison guards’ attitude towards him of late likely had more to do with the Hamzy connection.
We’re told the ex-judge also had to clear criminal record checks to just make it in through the front door and that his number of convictions comes to a grand total of zero.
Last we checked, Equal wasn’t a precursor for any other drug but the guards at Supermax are feared and loathed by defence lawyers for running a particularly tight ship.
“Mate, Jesus Christ himself would be subjected to a rectum probe just trying to get into the joint,” said one defence lawyer, who asked not to be named.
GREEN IS MY COLOUR
Just when you thought you knew everything you didn’t want to know about Salim Mehajer, he turns up at the NRL grand final.
And it turns out he might be a Canberra Raiders fan. Or maybe just a fan of the way the Raiders’ green looks on his skin.
The Snitch did a double take when we walked past the disgraced former Auburn deputy mayor at the big game two weeks ago.
Mehajer was with his girlfriend Melissa Tysoe, who was definitely wearing a Raiders jersey.
Mehajer was wearing a backpack, had his leg tattoos on full display and was wearing a green polo that was similar to the darker shade worn by the Raiders for a period from the
mid ’90s onwards.
Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in our attempts to find out if he is a rusted-on Raiders supporter or a bandwagon jumper following the Green Machine’s fairytale run to the season’s biggest game.
Instead, his lawyer Zali Burrows said: “He would have just chosen the most fashionable colour. Green is more flattering on the skin than the Roosters’ red, which would bring out skin blemishes.”
Well, obviously …
HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH
They were colleagues for decades as two of the leading crown prosecutors at the Office of the DPP before they were pitted to face off against each other in a high-profile murder trial.
So it came as no surprise that there was chatter and anticipation in the legal fraternity that Margaret Cunneen SC and Chris Maxwell QC were to go head-to-head in the case of Kulwinder Singh.
Cunneen left the DPP recently to switch sides and become a defence lawyer.
One of her first cases has been that of Singh’s, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Parwinder Kaur at their Rouse Hill home six years ago.
On the other side for the crown was Maxwell, the state’s senior crown prosecutor. So, how was it going to play out between the two in the heat of courtroom warfare? Courteous and civilised, or no holds barred?
We won’t say too much because the jury was discharged on Friday after failing to reach a verdict and it’s likely the case will have to be heard again.
But let’s just say our spies have heard both sides expressing some disgruntled views to colleagues.
CASHING IN
While we’re on the woman known as ‘St Marg’, our spies in the criminal world are telling us Ms Cunneen’s move to the defence world could be a very lucrative one.
We’re told she is now seen as a ‘must-hire’ for crooks in trouble.
There’s a feeling her skills in putting big name crims behind bars, and her high standing in the DPP, will translate to good results as a defence barrister.
All the accused better get their chequebooks ready.
* GOT A SNITCH? Contact ava.benny-morrison@news.com.au or brenden.hills@news.com.au