David Eastman awarded $7 million in compensation for wrongful imprisonment
David Eastman, who was jailed for almost two decades after being wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of one of Australia’s top police officers, has been awarded more than $7 million in compensation.
Canberra Star
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A man who sued the ACT Government for wrongful imprisonment over the murder of one of Australia’s top cops has been awarded more than $7 million in compensation.
David Eastman spent almost 19 years behind bars for the 1989 shooting of federal police assistant commissioner Colin Winchester — the highest ranking police officer ever to be assassinated in Australia.
The 74-year-old was found not guilty at a retrial in November after an inquiry recommended his conviction be quashed due to flaws in the evidence.
The former treasury official was seeking $18 million in compensation — about $1 million for each year he spent in jail — which he said robbed him the opportunity to get married, have children and further his career.
During Mr Eastman’s four day compensation hearing, the court also heard he suffered beatings, death threats and tried to kill himself during his time in custody.
He had earlier rejected a $3.8 million act of grace payment offered by the territory on the condition he forego his legal right to pursue a case against the government for wrongful imprisonment.
At ACT Supreme Court on Monday, Justice Michael Elkaim awarded Mr Eastman $7,020,000 in compensation.
The media shy Mr Eastman was not in court to hear the result but his solicitor Sam Tierney said he was “relieved and happy” with the decision.
“Mr Eastman would like to thank the court for considering this matter so promptly and would also like to thank his lawyers and the members of the ACT community who have supported him through what has been a very long journey,” Mr Tierney said.
“Obviously at his age he’s extremely keen to move forward with his life at this point in time.”
The ACT Government has 28 days to appeal the decision if it were to do so.
Mr Tierney said the court had confirmed the Territory’s Human Rights Act confers a right on people wrongfully convicted to be awarded compensation.
He was not sure what Mr Eastman would do with the money.
“At this stage he’s lost a significant chunk of his life and he’s obviously got some thoughts in mind about what he might do with it but we’ll have to wait and see.”
The case had already cost the territory more than $30 million before Monday’s decision.
Mr Winchester was shot twice in the head at close range as he got out of his car at his home in Deakin about 9.15pm on January 10, 1989.
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The prosecution’s 2018 case submitted Mr Eastman had a motive because Mr Winchester refused to help him fight assault charges which had damaged his career and that he’d threatened police.
Mr Eastman’s defence lawyers claimed the killing was a mafia hit related to Mr Winchester’s investigation of drug crops near Canberra.