Russell Street bomber Craig Minogue lectures Supreme Court judge on his rights
RUSSELL Street bomber Craig Minogue has lectured a Supreme Court judge on his rights to justice in a bizarre courtroom appearance.
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RUSSELL Street bomber Craig Minogue has lectured a Supreme Court judge on his rights to justice in a bizarre courtroom appearance.
Minogue, who appeared today in the Supreme Court looking more like KFC founder Colonel Sanders than a killer, addressed himself as “doctor” and was referred to as such throughout the hour-long proceeding.
Dressed in a black suit and runners, Minogue demanded he be allowed to address the court from the bar table, and not the prison dock where the killer was placed.
According to a sick website dedicated to him, Minogue was awarded a research PhD specialising in the field of Applied Ethics and Human and Social Sciences from La Trobe University in Melbourne.
While Minogue accepted his conduct outside the courtroom had been “problematic”, he said he had never played up in a courtroom.
“I’m not the accused person, I’m the plaintiff,” he complained. “I think I should have equal standing in the court.”
Supreme Court Justice Michael McDonald agreed, welcoming Minogue to take a seat before him.
Minogue was in court complaining about perceived injustices at the hands of prison staff, which opened some of his mail to lawyers.
He was sentenced in 1988 to life in jail with a minimum 28 years for the Russell St attack, in which a car packed with explosives was detonated in front of police headquarters.
Constable Angela Taylor, 21, was killed and 22 others injured.
He went on to kill fellow inmate Alex Tsakmakis behind bars and is suspected of ordering the 1992 murder of Glenroy teenager Prue Bird.
The court heard prison staff at Loddon prison had opened three letters Minogue sent to lawyers at Darebin Community Legal Centre, who he claimed were helping him with various jailhouse complaints.
Minogue claimed the opening of his mail was a breach of his right to legal professional privilege.
“I believe I’ve been wronged … I say harm was done,” he said. “My professional legal privilege has been violated.”
A frustrated Minogue repeatedly tried to explain his angst to Justice McDonald, but was informed he was barking up the wrong tree.
Justice McDonald told Minogue prison staff claimed they had opened his letters in an “honest mistake”.
But Minogue dismissed the suggestion.
“We do not accept it’s an honest mistake that happened on three occasions,” he said.
Minogue went on to criticise lawyers acting for Corrections Victoria over its failure to provide him with documents as requested by the court.
“It’s contrary to the administration of justice,” he said.
Minogue is set to return to court on August 18 where he hopes to have the matter settled alongside a battle to be allowed to continue a diploma of counselling course.