Jason Roberts to give evidence in bid for freedom over Silk-Miller murders
Convicted cop killer Jason Roberts’ bid for freedom has moved a step closer, as the families of slain policemen Gary Silk and Rodney Miller pleaded for the matter to be dealt with quickly to spare them the “lingering uncertainty”.
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Convicted cop killer Jason Roberts will front the Supreme Court early next year as his bid to have his life sentence overturned draws one step closer.
It comes as the families of slain policemen Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller pushed for the matter to be dealt with quickly and end the “lingering uncertainty”.
Roberts was jailed for life after being convicted of the fatal police shooting in Moorabbin on August 16, 1998.
But he has petitioned for mercy, claiming new evidence could clear him of the killings more than two decades later.
This evidence will be tested at a Supreme Court judicial hearing after it was referred to the court by former Attorney-General Martin Pakula last year.
A directions hearing was on Thursday told Roberts, as well as his co-accused Bandali Debs, would give evidence at the February inquiry.
Justice Robert Osborn said arrangements would need to be made for extra security at court if Debs, one of Australia’s worst serial killers, was to give his evidence in person.
The court heard top homicide detective Ron Iddles may also be called to testify as well as police officers present on the night of the shooting.
At the conclusion of the special hearing, which is expected to run for up to four weeks, three Supreme Court judges will decide if they are satisfied with the evidence.
If they are, the case will return to current Attorney-General, Jill Hennessy.
Lawyers of the Director of Public Prosecution said it was in both parties’ interest for the matter be heard expeditiously.
Family members of the murdered policemen, including Senior Constable Miller’s widow Carmel Arthur, were present as the court heard they had already endured protracted legal proceedings including in the High Court and Coroners Court.
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Most recently the murder investigation was subject to an Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption inquiry.
“This lingering uncertainty has caused a great deal of stress and anxiety,” the prosecution said.
Roberts, who has spent more than half his life behind bars, sat quietly in the dock dressed in a suit.
The matter was adjourned for a further directions hearing in October.