William Tyrrell: former cop Gary Jubelin ‘unable to lock up the bad guys’

Detective in the William Tyrrell probe hits out as he faces court over his handling of the case.

Former NSW Detective Gary Jubelin arrives at court with his lawyer, Margaret Cunneen. Picture: AAP

Former NSW homicide detective Gary Jubelin has expressed his sorrow at no longer being able to “lock up the bad guys” after facing court this morning over his handling of the investigation into missing boy William Tyrrell.

“I pleaded not guilty to all four charges, those charges related specifically to me carrying out my duties investigating the disappearance of William Tyrrell,” Mr Jubelin said, as supporters cheered for him outside the court complex in Sydney’s Liverpool Street.

“I’ll repeat that because I think it’s very important, so everyone understands what these charges relate to: they relate to me carrying out my duties, investigating the disappearance of William Tyrrell.

“In essence, I’ve been accused of recording four conversations. Those conversations were conversations I had with the person about the disappearance of weird material. I had a lawful right and an operational need to record that conversation. And I’ll repeat that. I had a lawful right and an operational need to record those conversations. I have made no attempt whatsoever to conceal the fact that I recorded those conversations.”

MORE: Nowhere Child — where is William Tyrrell

Mr Jubelin was placed in charged of the investigation into William’s disappearance in February 2015, and he ran it for three years, until being removed from the case in January.

He faced an internal investigations by a police standards committee, and ultimately resigned, before being charged with four offences under the Surveillance Devices Act.

“Sadly, I’ve retired from the NSW police. Unfortunately, it’s not what I wanted to do ... it’s as a direct result of the manner in which management treated me after these allegations surfaced, my position in the NSW police became untenable.

“I was not allowed to carry out duties. I was taken off the investigations I was leading, and I could no longer continue to support victims and lock up the bad guys like I’ve done throughout my career.

“I have absolutely no animosity in regards to the NSW police. It’s been a privilege working with the hard dedicated police officers of the NSW. I will miss being a police officer. But I’m sure they’ll continue on with all without me.”

Asked if he was heartbroken, Mr Jubelin said: “I’m not broken, I have done nothing wrong. And I will continue to defend myself in regards to this. I think you can tell how I feel about this whole situation. I think it’s an incredible waste of time. But the courts have to go through due process and I’ve got to respect that process.”

Mr Jubelin’s supporters chanted “go Gary” and “we are with you Gary” as Mr Jubelin entered the court complex with his barrister Margaret Cunneen SC.

William was a three-year-old foster child who disappeared from outside a house at Benaroon Drive in Kendall, on the NSW mid-north coast, on September 12, 2014. No trace of him has been found.