Gary Jubelin says he made recordings to find William Tyrrell

Celebrated former homicide investigator Gary Jubelin claimed he had a “lawful right and an operational need” to record someone while investigating the disappearance of William Tyrrell, during a remarkable press conference at the first court appearance of his criminal case.

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Celebrated former homicide investigator Gary Jubelin claimed he had a “lawful right and an operational need” to record someone while investigating the disappearance of William Tyrrell, during a remarkable press conference at the first court appearance of his criminal case.
Jubelin entered Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday with his high-profile defence barrister Margaret Cunneen to cheers from a crowd of around 20 supporters.

Gary Jubelin lashed out at the charges against him outside court. Picture: AAP

Gary Jubelin arrives with his lawyer Margaret Cunneen. Picture: AAP

Jubelin pleaded not guilty of four charges he breached the Surveillance Devices Act by recording someone in the investigation into the 2014 disappearance of William Tyrrell.

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Outside court he told reporters: “In essence I’ve been accused of recording four conversations, those conversations were conversations I had with a person about the disappearance of William Tyrrell.

A group of around 20 people turned out to support the former NSW detective.

Supporters, including Mark and Faye Leveson applaud as former NSW Detective Gary Jubelin. Picture: AAP

“I had a lawful right and an operation need to record that conversation. And I’ll repeat that, I had a lawful right and an operation need to record those conversations.
“I have made no attempt whatsoever to conceal the fact that I recorded those conversations and police were aware of that.
“I have pleaded not guilty to all four charges, those charges relate specifically to me carrying out my duties investigating the disappearance of William Tyrrell. I’ll repeat that because I think it’s very important everyone understands what these charges relate to. They relate to me carrying out my duties investigating the disappearance of William Tyrrell.”

Gary Jubelin pleaded not guilty to four charges. Picture: AAP

Jubelin, then a Detective Chief Inspector of the Homicide Squad, retired from the force in June before he was charged. He said management left him little option but to leave the force after the allegations came to light.
“Sadly I’ve retired from the NSW Police, unfortunately it’s not what I wanted to do but … as a direct result of the manner in which management treated me after these allegations surfaced, my position in the NSW Police became untenable.
“I was not allowed to carry out duties, I was taken off the investigations I was leading and I could no longer continue to support victims and lock up the bad guys like I’ve done throughout my career.

Gary Jubelin was lead detective in the disappearance of William Tyrrell.

“I will miss being a police officer but I’m sure they will carry on with or without me.
“I’m not broken, I have done nothing wrong and I will continue to defend myself.
“I think it’s an incredible waste of time.”
Standing at the entrance to Downing Centre Local Court as Jubelin arrived were a crowd of about 20 more supporters including Mark and Faye Leveson — Jubelin worked tirelessly to reunite them with the remains of their son Matthew — and representatives from families connected to the Bowraville murders.
And entering the courthouse behind Jubelin was former NSW Police deputy commissioner Nick Kaldas, former detective Angelo Memmolo and serving Sex Crimes Squad detective Paul Jacob who were there to support him.

The Daily Telegraph understands each of the alleged recordings were of conversations Jubelin had with an elderly neighbour in the street where William vanished, who is legally represented at an inquest into the little boy’s disappearance.

Court documents show Jubelin allegedly recorded four conversations between November 2017 and December 2018.

One recording was allegedly made in the town of Kendall, where William was last seen playing at his foster grandmother’s house, at 10.10pm on December 28, according to the documents.

Another was allegedly recorded in Parramatta at 10.35am on November 3, 2017.

Originally published as Gary Jubelin says he made recordings to find William Tyrrell