Documentary Press Release
"An
injustice is constant -
it does not become less of an injustice with the passage of time -
it actually compounds, the longer the injustice remains unresolved" |
"Freedom has come at last to
Andrew
Mallard!
In a surprise
move, one week out from the directions hearing to
determine if Andrew was to go to a re-trial - the DPP has
formally
dropped the murder charges against Andrew. He was released
from
Casuarina Maximum Security Prison in Western Australia
at 6.20pm on
20 February 2006. Just short of 12 years of unjust imprisonment
has
come to an end."
See
Andrew Mallard's story
Andrew's family always believed he was
innocent. A legal
and support team has developed around them who are outraged
that the criminal justice system failed a vulnerable young
man with no history of violence. Fact sheet
On Monday May 23, 1994 Pamela Lawrence
was bludgeoned to death at Flora Metallica, her store in the
Perth suburb of Mosman Park. What followed was a police investigation
and criminal prosecution that have now been called into question.
The Mallard team found enough fresh evidence
to reopen the case. The Attorney-General of Western Australia,
the Hon. Jim McGinty referred the matter back to the Court
of Criminal Appeal on 21 July 2002 based on the legal
evidence collected by the team. This appeal unfortunately
was lost.
This left the family, friends and legal
team with a feeling of disbelief.
There were so many facts withheld from
the court in the trial that they felt at the very least, the
Court of Criminal Appeal ought to have ordered a retrial.
Andrew has a large base of supporters who are convinced
of the need
for his case to be properly re-examined.
The application for special leave to appeal to the High Court
of
Australia was lodged and a hearing took place on 28 October 2004.
The
application was successful and the hearing for the appeal against
his
conviction was heard in the High Court of Australia on 6 and
7
September 2005. The hearing went very well with Andrew's lawyers
arguing that crucial evidence was witheld from the defence team
in the
trial
which could well have changed the jury's decision.
The Justices of the High Court handed down their unanimous decision
that the conviction be quashed and ordered a re-trial.
Andrew's large base of supporters are
convinced of the need for his case to be properly re-examined.
For further information about the case
or to contact any of the team,
please EMAIL support@andrewmallard.com |
