Cop responsible for Silk-Miller murder evidence says falsified statement a ‘simple error’
The officer responsible for compiling the evidence in the Silk-Miller murder investigation has told a major anti-corruption inquiry that a falsified statement was nothing more than a “simple error” made the morning of the officers’ death.
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The officer responsible for compiling the evidence in the Silk-Miller murder investigation has told a major anti-corruption inquiry that a falsified statement was nothing more than a “simple error” made the morning of the officers’ death.
Former homicide detective George Buchhorn the told Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission that he believed officer Glenn Pullin’s second statement — altered to include the dying declaration of Senior Constable Rodney Miller — was made within minutes of his first statement.
Mr Pullin’s original statement was uncovered by the Herald Sun in 2017, triggering the major inquiry.
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Commissioner Robert Redlich, QC, said Mr Buchhorn’s “theory” was not supported by any other evidence presented to the inquiry — including Mr Pullin’s sworn testimony. He challenged Mr Buchhorn’s denials of claims he approached Mr Pullin to change his statement in the years after the murders and backdated it.
“What you are saying is not based on any recollection, but based on a reconstruction that would absolve you of any responsibility,” Commissioner Redlich said.
Notes made by Mr Buchhorn in his police diary detailed a meeting with Mr Pullin to “seek clarification” of his statement, but the former detective said it was to discuss sand found in a gun handled by both Pullin and Miller.
Mr Buchhorn accused former top homicide detective Charlie Bezzina of lying under oath during his earlier evidence to the inquiry.
Mr Buchhorn claimed it was Mr Bezzina who would have instructed Mr Pullin to alter his statement — to include Constable Miller’s last words indicating there were two offenders — within minutes of the signing Mr Pullin’s first statement. Asked by assisting counsel Jack Rush, QC, if he was doubting Mr Bezzina’s oath, he answered: “Yes.”
“I don’t think anyone has done this deliberately, I don’t believe there were any nefarious reasons,” Mr Buchhorn said. “It was just in the rush of the morning … it was just a simple error.”
Commissioner Redlich said this was an “extraordinary position” based on nothing more than a theory.
Mr Buchhorn agreed with evidence he had helped two other first-responding officers “clarify” their statements regarding Mr Miller’s dying declaration in the months after the shootings, but he denied he did the same with Mr Pullin.
“No, I don’t agree,” he said.
The hearing continues.