An Australian man’s conviction for a gangland murder has been quashed, after a high-profile scandal where his lawyer was revealed to be a police informant.<\/p>\n
Faruk Orman, 37, was freed on Friday after serving 12 years in jail for the killing of a Melbourne crime figure.<\/p>\n
It was the first legal test of the so-called “Lawyer X” informant scandal, which is now the focus of a major inquiry into police conduct.<\/p>\n
Some of Australia’s most high-profile convictions have been cast into doubt.<\/p>\n
In a significant ruling on Friday, appeal judges found that he had suffered a “substantial miscarriage of justice” due to the actions of his lawyer, Nicola Gobbo.<\/p>\n
Last year, court documents revealed that an unidentified barrister – dubbed Lawyer X – had worked as an informant for Victoria Police between 2005-2009.<\/p>\n
That lawyer was publicly identified as Ms Gobbo in March, after a court ruled it was in the public interest. Police had fought to keep her name a secret.<\/p>\n
Ms Gobbo had represented key criminal figures in Melbourne during an era when police were under significant pressure to bring an end to gangland violence.<\/p>\n
Her exposure as a police informant has rocked Victoria’s justice system and prompted a royal commission inquiry.<\/p>\n
The inquiry follows the High Court of Australia stating that Victoria Police had engaged in “atrocious” conduct by encouraging Ms Gobbo to provide information about her clients.<\/p>\n
In 2009, Mr Orman was convicted of helping to plan the 2002 shooting murder of Victor Peirce and acting as a driver for the hitman who carried it out.<\/p>\n
The conviction had relied substantially on the evidence of one witness who claimed that Mr Orman had confessed to the crime.<\/p>\n
However, Victoria’s Court of Appeal heard that witness had also been a client of Ms Gobbo’s at the time and she had arranged for him to testify against Mr Orman.<\/p>\n
“Ms Gobbo’s conduct subverted Mr Orman’s right to a fair trial, and went to the very foundations of the system of criminal trial,” the court said in its judgement on Friday.<\/p>\n
Speaking outside court, Mr Orman – who had always maintained his innocence – thanked his legal team and said he did not feel bitter or angry.<\/p>\n
“After serving 12 years for a crime that I did not commit, I am looking forward to getting on with my life as a private citizen,” he said.<\/p>\n
He did not indicate whether he planned to sue the state for his wrongful imprisonment.<\/p>\n
The inquiry is investigating this issue, but local media reports that at least 20 criminal convictions could face scrutiny.<\/p>\n
Ms Gobbo’s clients included high-profile crime boss Tony Mokbel, who was jailed in 2012 for masterminding a drug-trafficking operation, and six of his associates.<\/p>\n
Mokbel and two others convicted of drug offences – Rob Karam and Zlate Cvetanovski – have already launched appeals from prison.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"