Lawyer X victim Faruk Orman to marry longtime partner
The first man released after the Lawyer X scandal will begin a new phase of his life this weekend, marrying his long-time partner, less than five months since he was released from prison.
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The man who was acquitted of murder due to the Lawyer X scandal will marry his long time partner on Saturday.
Faruk Orman spent 12 years behind bars for the execution of underworld figure Victor Peirce – but he was s ensationally acquitted in July after the full extent of the double role played by Lawyer X – aka Nicola Gobbo – was revealed.
Gobbo represented not only him, but another person dubbed Witness Q – whose evidence was relied on heavily by prosecutors to convict him for the murder of Peirce, who was gunned down in his car in Port Melbourne in 2002.
The conviction was overturned by Court of Appeal president Chris Maxwell who said Gobbo’s conduct “was a fundamental breach of her duties to Mr Orman and to the court”.
Orman told the Herald Sun the happy day had been “a long time coming”.
“The wedding is a private family gathering, it’s been a long time coming … we are very thrilled.”
He and his partner, who he has shielded from the massive publicity his unprecedented case has attracted, were looking forward to their future together.
“ [We] are grateful the media are respecting our privacy and will allow us to move on with our lives.”
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The day he walked free the Supreme Court he paid tribute to her for staying with him while he was locked away.
“To my beautiful partner, who has loved me and supported me, who hasn’t missed a week of visits, I cannot put into words how much you mean to me,” he said outside court.
“You have had to serve this sentence with me and our lives have been on hold. We have our time now and I look forward to our future together.”
His appeal options had all been used until he launched a petition of mercy, which was eventually successful, after Herald Sun revelations that Gobbo was a police informer.
He has indicated he will sue the state of Victoria for compensation.