DPP will appeal to High Court to reinstate Gerard Baden-Clay’s murder conviction

QUEENSLAND’S top prosecutor has privately told the Government he will appeal to the High Court to reinstate Gerard Baden-Clay’s murder conviction.

Bid to reinstate Baden-Clay conviction

QUEENSLAND’S top prosecutor has privately told the Queensland Government he will appeal to the High Court to reinstate Gerard Baden-Clay’s murder conviction.

Director of Public Prosecutions Michael Byrne, QC, informed the Government before Christmas he intended to file for special leave for an appeal on January 4 — the eve of an appeal deadline and same day the High Court’s registry reopens after its holiday shutdown, The Courier Mail reports.

It comes after widespread public protests over the decision to downgrade Baden-Clay’s charge to manslaughter.

Gerard Baden-Clay.

Allison Baden-Clay.

Baden-Clay was last year sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, and the mother of his three children, Allison Baden-Clay.

But Queensland’s Court of Appeal earlier this month downgraded his conviction to manslaughter, delivering another blow to an already grieving family and outraging many Queenslanders, who were captivated and disturbed by the killing of an ordinary Queensland mother and her marital demons.

The Courier Mail understands Mr Byrne has been privately working on the laborious appeal to the High Court over the holidays — including when 4000 people rallied in Brisbane’s city on December 18 to demand the State Government take the case to the High Court.

The Government refused to be drawn into the matter. Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath yesterday declined to comment.

Read more on The Courier Mail.

Director of Public Prosecutions Michael Byrne will appeal to the High Court. Picture: Liam Kidston