MP apologies at Hills police awards for judicial system
Federal MP Alex Hawke has apologised to police for a High Court decision over the sentence given to the killer of Det Inspector Bryson Anderson at Oakville
Hills Shire
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MITCHELL federal Liberal MP Alex Hawke has slammed the justice system for failing police in an emotional speech at last week’s Hills LAC police awards ceremony at Castle Hill RSL.
His comments came just days after the High Court’s decision to not hear an appeal against a reduced sentence for the mentally ill man who killed Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson at Oakville in December 2012.
The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in December cut Mitchell Barbieri’s minimum jail term from 26 years to 15 over the 2012 stabbing murder of Det Insp Anderson who had gone to his home following a call from neighbours.
“We are here to say thank you and acknowledge the risks you take every day,” Mr Hawke said.
“I think our criminal justice system has failed again.
In December last year, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal cut Mitchell Barbieri’s minimum jail term from 26 years to 15 over the 2012 stabbing murder of Insp Anderson, who had gone to his family’s house following a call from neighbours.
Mr Hawke told the police: “We understand that our system lets us down sometimes and we need to work to reform that.”
After the awards Mr Hawke told the Times that the High Court’s decision not to hear the appeal against the reduced sentence was wrong. “The government should be sending a signal to the judiciary that for the murder of a police officer we expect a serious sentence,” he said.
“A sentence of 26 years reduced to a lighter sentence of 15 is outside the community’s expectations. The public want the justice system to provide justice.
“Fifteen years with a non-parole period of 10 years is inadequate for the murder of a police officer.”
More than 50 awards were presented at The Hills Local Area Command Awards Ceremony, including nine retired police officers with 266 years of service between them, 21 serving police officers, three employees and eight members of the public.
Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott said it was a great honour to be presenting the awards and acknowledged the families of all police officers.
“(The awards) are for your loved ones,” he said.
Sgt Stuart Fortier and Sgt Evan Davies received four awards; Chief Inspector Arpad Szabo, Inspector Stephen Fowler and Senior Constable Alison Lilly received two awards.
Civilian employees Tracey Aquilina (two awards) and Lyn Sale were also recognised alongside Robyn Preller.
Commendations were awarded to civilians Ron Hicks, Frank and Kerry Mahony, Anthony Gratland, Craig and Marie Hartley, Adam Jeston and Andrew Martyn.
Other recipients were:
Inspector Toby Austin
Sgt Guiseppe Mammone,
Leading Snr Cnst Shaun Woods,
Det Snr Cnst Joshua Davies,
Det Snr Constable April Bruce,
Lding Snr Constable Kaitlin McMillan
Snr Const Robert Paterson
Sgt Glenn Peters
Constable Alexandros Lambrousis,
Snr Const Shane Hewitt,
Const Tom Coventry,
Const Brendan Dobbie,
Snr Constable Wayne McGrath
Prob Const Lauren Karam
Retired police officers to be awarded National Police service medals were:
Neville Tamlyn, Norman Sheppherd, Kevin Fitzgerald, Paul Grech, Lloyd Taylor, Paul Vella, Alan Henderson, Peter Short and Julie Anne Lawson.
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