NSW Government to chase Gordon Wood for millions in legal costs

The State of NSW will pursue Gordon Wood for legal costs after he lost his final bid to sue, claiming his prosecution was “malicious”.

Gordon Wood is facing fresh legal action to recoup the millions he owes the public purse after losing his final fight to sue police and prosecutors who unsuccessfully tried him for the murder of his model girlfriend.

The former chauffeur for the late celebrity stockbroker Rene Rivkin spent more than three years behind bars before his conviction for killing Caroline Byrne was overturned when the Court of Appeal found there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he killed her by throwing her off The Gap.

The NSW Government on Tuesday confirmed they were pursuing him for the legal costs, estimated to be over $4 million, he was ordered to pay by three courts, including the High Court, after he failed in his attempts to sue the State of NSW.

Gordon Wood leaves the Supreme Court of NSW. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Model Caroline Byrne’s body was found at the bottom of The Gap in Sydney in 1995.

His claims he was “stitched up” by the police and that his prosecution was malicious were rejected by the Supreme Court in 2017. He then lost an appeal to the Court of Appeal and his final path was blocked in August this year when the High Court refused him leave to appeal. Each time he was ordered to pick up the bill for the State of NSW’s legal team.

As yet, Mr Wood, 58, has not yet paid up, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

He had also intended to pay back at least $100,000 of the $682,589 of taxpayers’ funds that Legal Aid spent on his 2008 trial and his appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal which in 2012 overturned his conviction and entered a verdict of acquittal.

The Supreme Court was told in 2017 that Mr Wood had intended to repay that sum after the outcome of his malicious prosecution case in which he claimed almost $21 million in legal costs, damages and lost earnings.

Gordon Wood leaves the Supreme Court of NSW in 2017. Picture:Justin Lloyd

It is not known what arrangement he had with his own legal team which included the high-profile silk Bruce McClintock SC but it is understood that much of the work was done on a no-win no-fee basis.

Ms Byrne’s father, Tony Byrne, said Mr Wood had no option but to pay or be declared bankrupt.

“He definitely should have to pay,” Mr Byrne said on Tuesday.

“I know people who get booked for jay walking and if they don’t pay, at the end of the day they are told people are coming to take their furniture away to the value of what is owed.”

Mr Wood could not be contacted for comment yesterday but he told the Supreme Court during his failed malicious prosecution cases in 2017 that had not worked since the day before his 2006 arrest.

Since his acquittal, he has been paid $200,000 by 60 Minutes for an interview and has successfully sued a slew of media companies.

Model Caroline Byrne in an undated photo.

Gordon Wood and Caroline Byrne in an undated photo.

The body of Ms Byrne, 24, was found on rocks beneath The Gap in June 1995. Mr Wood has always denied any involvement and said she had killed herself at the notorious suicide spot.

At the time, the couple was living together and Mr Wood told police in a statement that when he woke after 11pm having fallen asleep watching television to find she had not returned to their apartment, he “had a feeling” and “there was some kind of spiritual communication” that led him to The Gap where he saw her body at the bottom of the cliff using a borrowed torch.

The government yesterday said through its insurance arm icare: “Several orders for costs were made against Mr Wood during the course of proceedings by the courts to pay the State’s costs. To date those costs orders have not been paid by Mr Wood to the State.

“icare is examining the available recovery options to obtain the monies owed to the state following Mr Wood’s unsuccessful appeal to the High Court.”

Mr Wood’s solicitor, Bill Kalantzis, who has represented him through his civil claim, did not return a request for a comment on Tuesday.