Remember when: The trial of former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen neared its end in 1991

THE trial of former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was one of the biggest media circuses of the 1990s.

Gold Coast History 130: Gold Coast Bulletin 1991, October 16. Front page.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Wednesday October 16, 1991

THE trial of former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was one of the biggest media circuses of the 1990s.

The Nationals icon had served as the state’s leader for 19 years before his sensational downfall in 1987 after losing the support of his cabinet and colleagues.

The revelations of the Fitzgerald inquiry that the 32-year conservative administration was institutionally corrupt brought down many of the government’s major figures, including the former premier who was charged with perjury over evidence he gave to the inquiry in 1988.

It was alleged that on December 5, 1988, Bjelke-Petersen knowingly gave false evidence that, when he received $100,000 from Singapore-based developer Robert Sng, his only knowledge was that Sng wished to enter the hotel industry.

By October 16, 1991, the trial had reached its final days as the case was summed up for the jury of seven men and five women.

Judge Helmen told the jury in his summing up that they should not let prejudice cloud their decision and said there must be proof beyond reasonable doubt that the former premier knowingly gave incorrect evidence.

The Bulletin reported that the 80-year-old former leader spent the deliberations sitting on the fourth floor of the Brisbane District Court. The jury was unable to come to an agreement and Bjelke-Petersen was ruled too old to face trial again.

It was later revealed the jury foreman, Luke Shaw, was a member of the Young Nationals.

The former premier died in 2005 following a long illness.