Lawyer X inquiry: Victoria Police ‘believed they could weather Lawyer X storm’

Graham Ashton was told news on George Pell would knock the Lawyer X scandal off the front page | READ THE EMAILS

Nicola Gobbo has been ordered to give evidence at the Royal Commission. Picture: Supplied by ABC

Victoria Police believed they could “weather” the Lawyer X storm when story first broke in 2014, emails released by the royal commission reveal.

In the correspondence, then assistant media director Charlie Morton advised Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton that news about George Pell would lead to the press moving on from the Lawyer X story.

“The Pell stuff is coming tomorrow and will knock this way off the frontpage,” Mr Morton said in an email.

“Unless there are some serious appeals from convicted crims which might get up as a result of this, then I can’t see this continuing with the same level of profile.”

READ MORE: Gobbo has nothing to fear: Top cop | Nicola Gobbo ordered to testify | Lawyer X a risk to justice: police chief |

Ms Gobbo was a high profile criminal defence barrister who represented underworld heavies at the height of the gangland wars in the mid-2000s whilst simultaneously acting as snitching on her clients to Victoria Police.

The Royal Commission, which has already cost the taxpayer millions, has identified dozens of cases that may have been tainted by Ms Gobbo’s relationship with Victoria Police.

Faruk Orman was released in July after spending more than a decade behind bars for his role in the 2002 murder of hitman Victor Pierce. The case against Mr Orman was circumstantial and relied on evidence given by clients of Ms Gobbo.

On Wednesday, Mr Ashton refused to confirm or deny there were any lawyers currently registered as informants in Victoria but guaranteed the situation with Ms Gobbo could not be repeated.

“I’m guaranteeing you what's [Lawyer-X Royal Commission] happening here and what's going on here can’t be repeated,” he said.

“In relation to whether we do or don’t have any lawyers as human sources now I can’t confirm or deny that to you.”

Royal Commissioner Margaret McMurdo on Wednesday questioned how barrister turned supergrass Nicola Gobbo is well enough to be interviewed by the ABC when she claims she is too unwell to appear at the inquiry.

“When can the Commission expect to receive this statement for the Royal Commission that she [Ms Gobbo] spoke of in the interview?” asked Commissioner McMurdo.

Mr Nathwani said he did not know as he was still waiting to receive instructions from Ms Gobbo.

“I can’t give you a definitive answer as far as that’s concerned,” he said.

Ms McMurdo last week ordered Ms Gobbo to give evidence in January after rejecting a bid from her legal team that the former barrister was too mentally and physically unwell to appear.

On Wednesday, Commissioner McMurdo asked Mr Nathwani why Ms Gobbo was too unwell to attend the inquiry but was fine to travel to an undisclosed location for an interview with the ABC.

“I would like to know why the Commission was not informed that at or about that very time she was flying to an international destination and giving a lengthy interview to nationwide media … instead the Commission was being told that she was too unwell to give evidence,” she said.

Mr Nathwani said he did not know about the interview but suggested it was recorded prior to submissions made for Ms Gobbo be excused from appearing before the commission.

“It was not within my knowledge at all,” he said.

“I can’t tell you when it was recorded, all I can say it was recorded as the program suggests, prior to the submissions made to you.”

Ms Gobbo said in the ABC interview she didn’t feel guilt over informing on her clients because she morally and ethically felt she had no choice.