Lawyer X royal commission: Criminal’s shock over betrayal
Gangland killer who hired Lawyer X Nicola Gobbo to represent him has told a royal commission he would have “sacked her on the spot” had he known she was having sex with a police officer.
True Crime
Don't miss out on the headlines from True Crime. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Gangland killer who hired Lawyer X Nicola Gobbo to represent him has told a royal commission he would have “sacked her on the spot” had he known she was having sex with a police officer.
In blunt evidence, the first underworld figure to enter the witness box at the commission of inquiry gave a frank assessment of the barrister who secretly turned police informer.
“Let me tell you something. If I had any idea about Nicola Gobbo having inappropriate relations with police I would have sacked her on the spot,” Person 12 said. “She’s given a whole new meaning to barristers dicking police.”
Person 12, who is the first of Gobbo’s clients to give evidence, said he remained “shocked” by the revelation she had been a police informer.
She represented him twice.
When asked if he had been aware of Ms Gobbo’s “inappropriate intimate, personal relationships” he replied: “Absolutely not. I would have asked her when my turn was.”
Person 12 said that in 2009, while he was serving his sentence, Gobbo had visited him at Barwon Prison.
He recalled that she had expressed fear of a jailed police officer. “She was really panicking. When I say panicking, she was scared,” he said.
Also appearing before the commission yesterday were ex-detective Paul Dale and his one-time underling at the drug squad, the corrupt former detective David Miechel.
A statement to the commission by Dale, who was once charged with a September 2003 burglary alongside Miechel and their then informer, Terry Hodson, was suppressed.
GOBBO’S SECRET DIARIES REVEALED
HOW GOBBO USED BIRTHDAY BASH FOR POLICE STING
Police have long suspected that burglary led to Hodson’s murder eight months later.
Dale is due to return next month to give evidence.
Miechel, who was released from prison last year, took his chance to deny that he or Dale had been involved in the burglary at Oakleigh.
Miechel was asked whether, after the burglary, Dale had attended the drug squad offices to take Hodson’s informer file, known as the “blue file’’.
The blue file was leaked to the underworld after the burglary, endangering Hodson.
“I don’t know why it’s called the blue file. I’m not aware if Paul attended the office. I’m not sure where he attended over that weekend,” he said.
The Lawyer X Royal Commission will resume on June 17.
Moment journalist was caught up in brazen theft
Masked, hooded and unpredictable. This is the moment Canberra’s youth crime crisis unfolded in front of this Daily Telegraph reporter’s eyes by way of a brazen bottle-o theft. See the shocking footage.
Killers, rapists and pedos get cash payment up to $1000
Australian taxpayers are paying more than 200 former immigration detainees - including murderers, rapists and pedophiles - a fortnightly cash payment of up to $1000.