Why Laidley won’t testify over leaked photos
There’s been a twist in the case of a detective accused of leaking photos of former AFL coach Dani Laidley.
True Crime
Don't miss out on the headlines from True Crime. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former AFL coach Dani Laidley will not be called to give evidence at a three-day contested hearing of a Victoria Police detective charged over leaking photos of her in custody.
Detective Senior Constable Murray Gentner was charged with six offences, including misconduct in public office for his alleged involvement in disseminating photos alongside commentary of the ex-Kangaroos coach in custody in May last year.
Court documents allege he shared a mugshot from the police database of Laidley to 10 people, saying: “Dean Laidley remanded overnight. Now a full-blown ice head and tranny!”.
A three-day contested hearing, where six police officers will be the only witnesses to testify, was booked in for February when Det Gentner’s case returned to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Chris Carr, SC, for Det Gentner, told the court there was “an issue about where the photograph came from” and “what my client accessed and what others accessed”.
Magistrate Andrew McKenna said he would expect there would be some “electronic nexus” from devices detailing who disseminated what.
Det Gentner, known for his involvement in chasing James Gargasoulas in the lead-up to the deadly 2017 Bourke Street Mall car rampage, was charged alongside a number of officers.
The mugshot was among two photos leaked, with another policeman, Senior Constable Shane Reid, accused of taking a picture of Laidley in the interview room at the St Kilda police station wearing a dress, long blonde wig and make-up.
It is alleged the pair shared the photos in a group WhatsApp chat they have with other police officers, called the “SD1 Gentleman’s Club”.
Both photos went viral — and made headlines on the news — within hours of Laidley’s arrest.
The respected former coach’s lawyer later revealed in court that Laidley now identified as a woman, whose name was Dani.
Mr Carr is also representing Sen-Constable Reid, who is expected to appear in court on Friday afternoon.
Ex-Melbourne private schoolboy jailed for bashing wife
Damien Carew, a graduate of the elite St Kevin’s College in Toorak, has learned his fate over charges for repeated domestic violence against his Russian wife.
Kim Kardashian calls for Menendez brothers’ release
Kim Kardashian has called for the release of the infamous Menendez brothers who murdered their parents three decades ago after the success of a new Netflix show.