Murray Gentner allegedly shared images of corpses

A senior detective who was embroiled in the Dani Laidley leaked photo saga is under investigation for allegedly sharing images of corpses.

Detective Murray Gentner is accused of sharing images of corpses. Picture: David Geraghty

A detective embroiled in the Dani Laidley photo scandal is under investigation over an unrelated image-sharing probe.

Senior detective Murray Gentner, who was charged and cleared over the infamous Dani Laidley photo saga, is now being accused of sharing images of corpses.

Victoria Police has confirmed to the Herald Sun its professional standards command has charged four police members over the most recent alleged photo misconduct.

“Professional standards command have charged four male officers as part of an internal discipline investigation,” a spokesperson said.

Murray Gentner is one of four police officers under investigation. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

“The three detective leading senior constables and one sergeant have each been charged with one count of disgraceful and improper conduct.

“It is expected they will appear before a discipline hearing in the coming months.”

None of the police officers face criminal charges but it is understood Sen-Det Gentner is suspended without pay.

In most cases suspended members are put off work with pay.

Victoria Police members leaked images of Dani Laidley in custody in May 2020.

The discipline hearing is set for April 26.

It is not known what the images relate to but they are believed to have been recovered when internal investigators examined phones in relation to the Laidley photo inquiry.

Victoria Police, which served a warrant on numerous officers after the Laidley scandal broke, trawled through years of data after confiscating phones.

It is unclear whether the images of dead people have been shared on the infamous WhatsApp “SD1 Gentlemen’s Club” as were the photos of Laidley inside the St Kilda police station.

Criminal charges against Sen-Det Gentner over the Laidley images were thrown out at a hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last year.

He had been charged with misconduct and accessing and disclosing police information without a reasonable excuse.

Sen-Det Gentner received the Mick Miller Award in 2013 for his work as a detective.

His former lawyer in the Laidley photo scandal matter, Tony Hargreaves, told the Herald Sun the detective had been through a great deal of trauma.

“He’s been a terribly hardworking officer and I think he’s suffered because of it,” Mr Hargreaves said.

“They (the police command) are going to keep looking until they find something.”

After being cleared officer Gentner faced internal disciplinary hearings and remained a police officer.

Last year police settled a civil lawsuit brought by Laidley, paying out an undisclosed sum to the former AFL footballer and coach.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton this month warned members he would not tolerate misconduct and law-breaking in the ranks.