Police union rejects senators claims of murder cover-up in Westbrook case
The police union has slammed claims of incompetence and cover-up made in federal parliament over the handling of the decade-old Eden Westbrook case as reckless.
Tasmania
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The police union has rejected claims made in federal parliament of incompetence and cover-up in the decade-old Eden Westbrook case — and say the senator involved should withdraw her remarks.
Senator Jacqui Lambie spoke about the case during Tuesday night’s adjournment debate.
Ms Westbrook, 15, was found dead in Fisherman’s Memorial Park in St Helens on February 18, 2015.
A 2016 inquest found she had taken her own life, but her family believe she may have met with foul play and has called for further investigation.
In her adjournment speech, Senator Lambie took aim at police, the Tasmanian justice system, the Coroners Act and Attorney-General Guy Barnett.
She said she was convinced Eden was murdered.
“This whole case stinks to high heaven of incompetence,” she said.
Senator Lambie cited the failure to provide autopsy photos to the family, facial bruising and shattered teeth reported by some witnesses and the absence of a key exhibit from police evidence.
“This is a botched investigation at the very least. The police had clearly decided from the start … nothing else to see. That was it, end of story. You didn’t even look to see if it was murder. You made your mind up.
“They didn’t interview critical witnesses and persons of interest.
“They didn’t ask for Eden’s mobile phone or check her social media accounts to understand her state of mind, or check whether she was being groomed or abused.”
Police Association of Tasmania president Shane Tilley called on Senator Lambie to withdraw her latest claims about the case.
“Parliamentary privilege should not be used recklessly,” he said.
“It’s there to allow parliamentarians to speak freely about difficult matters without the risk of legal consequences, such as defamation suits, and it’s disappointing Senator Lambie has used it vexatiously.
“Last night in the Senate, Senator Lambie again made very serious allegations of incompetence and cover-ups by local and senior Tasmanian Police, all unfounded.
“Our members, from Constables to the Commissioner, work very hard under difficult conditions to keep the community safe.
“They do not deserve to be disrespected and the subject to unfounded allegations from people like Senator Lambie who then produce nothing to support their claims.”
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