A Supreme Court jury has heard the case against accused cop killer Jason Roberts is circumstantial but that does not mean it is weak
A Crown prosecutor has told a jury the pieces of the puzzle fit together in the case against accused cop killer Jason Roberts.
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The prosecution case against accused cop killer Jason Roberts may be mainly circumstantial, but that does not mean it is weak, a jury has been told.
Prosecutor Ben Ihle QC during his fourth day closing submissions in the Supreme Court retrial of Mr Roberts, who is charged with the murders of Sgt Gary Silk and Sen Constable Rodney Miller in 1998, told jurors the strands of the case working together was its strength.
“Circumstantial does not mean weak,’’ he said.
“Circumstantial does not mean unreliable.’’
Mr Ihle said the jury should be satisfied the evidence, which includes forensic and listening device material, pointed to Mr Roberts as one of the killers on Cochranes Rd on August 16, 1998.
Mr Ihle said the jury should find the pieces of the puzzle fit together to paint a picture and return a guilty verdict.
“A picture that shows you without any reasonable doubt there were two offenders, with two different guns shooting bullets at two police officers in different positions …’’ he said.
“Liars, thieves, armed robbers, murderers.’’
Mr Roberts’ defence barrister David Hallowes SC began his closing address to the jury by posing his own question.
He pointed out that Roberts had given a version of events he said he was told by Debs about the shooting sequence.
Mr Hallowes said Mr Roberts had told homicide Detective Ron Iddles in 2013 the same version as told to him by Debs.
But he said the version, as the forensics showed, was clearly wrong.
Mr Hallowes asked: “How can Jason Roberts get it wrong if he was there at the scene?’’
“And get it wrong in the same way Bandali Debs says it took place.’’
“That’s exactly what he (Bandali Debs) says in 2020 to the police.’’
“It is clear on those two points that version is completely wrong … that’s why we say it points to his innocence.’’
Mr Roberts has pleaded guilty to committing 10 armed robberies with Debs but has maintained his innocence of the murder charges.
The trial continues.
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