VIC:Williams murder hearing adjourned

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2010
VIC:Williams murder hearing adjourned

EDS: Changes keyword to Johnson

By Mike Hedge

GEELONG, Vic, Dec 8 AAP - Carl Williams' father is expected to give evidence on Thursday
in the committal hearing for the man accused of bashing his son to death in Barwon Prison.

George Williams was due to give evidence on the opening day of the hearing on Wednesday
but legal argument dominated the day and his appearance was postponed.

Lawyers for alleged killer Matthew Charles Johnson argued they should have access to
sections of affidavits which the government wants suppressed for security and operational
reasons.

Geelong Magistrates Court was told that evidence to be heard during the three-day hearing
will centre on the relationship between Williams and his fellow inmate Johnson and conditions
inside the high security unit of Barwon Prison.

Johnson appeared in court for the first day of his hearing into the killing he allegedly
committed in the prison on April 19.

During legal argument over affidavits supplied by various witnesses, Johnson's counsel
Chris Traill told magistrate Rosemary Carlin that prisoner relationships were central
to the case.

He argued evidence of the relationships contained in the affidavits should be made
available and not excised as requested by counsel for Victoria's Corrective Services Commissioner
who claimed they could damage the relationships between officers and prisoners.

Mr Traill also told the court the affidavits may have relevance as to whether Barwon's
high security unit was run appropriately.

"It may be that an issue arises as to the very nature of the confinement," Mr Traill
told the court.

"(It may be) that the regime is such that it causes behavioural problems in those subjected
to it."

Counsel for the Corrective Services Commissioner also argued that references in the
affidavits relating to the location of surveillance cameras and the location of keys should
be excised for security reasons.

The committal hearing will examine the evidence against Johnson who is not required
at this stage to offer a plea.

Should the evidence be deemed likely to result in a conviction, he will stand trial.

Williams was sentenced in 2007 to four concurrent life terms after he pleaded guilty
to murdering underworld rivals Jason Moran, Lewis Moran, Mark Mallia and Michael Marshall
as well as conspiring to murder Mario Condello.

AAP mh/pmu/jnb/nb

KEYWORD: JOHNSON WRAP (CHANGES KEYWORD)

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