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David Eastman

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David Harold Eastman
Born (1945-09-29) 29 September 1945 (age 78)[1]
OccupationPublic servant
Criminal statusIncarcerated
Conviction(s)Murder
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment without parole

David Harold Eastman (born 29 September 1945) is a former public servant from Canberra, Australia. In 1995 he was convicted of the murder of Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. He was found guilty of shooting Winchester twice in the head at point blank range in the driveway of Winchester's home in Deakin, Australian Capital Territory on 10 January 1989.[2]

Eastman was tried in 1995. During the 85 day trial, Eastman repeatedly sacked his legal team and eventually chose to represent himself. Eastman also abused the judge during his trial, and during later legal proceedings and appeals.[3] Subsequent to his conviction, Eastman continuously appealed his conviction, attempting to win a retrial on the basis that he was mentally unfit during his original trial.[4] On 27 May 2009, Eastman was transferred from a New South Wales prison to the ACT's Alexander Maconochie Centre to see out his sentence.[5]

A new inquiry relating to his conviction was announced in August 2012.[6] In 2014, the inquiry, headed by Justice Brian Ross Martin, found there had been "a substantial miscarriage of justice", Eastman "did not receive a fair trial", the forensic evidence on which the conviction was based was "deeply flawed" and recommended the conviction be quashed. Because a retrial would be neither feasible nor fair Eastman should be pardoned. However Martin said he was "fairly certain" Eastman was guilty but "a nagging doubt remains".[7][8][9]

References

  1. ^ http://courts.act.gov.au/resources/attachments/Eastman10Nov95.pdf
  2. ^ Solly, Ross (28 May 2003). "David Eastman wins right to appeal". ABC PM. Retrieved 6 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ AAP (28 May 2003). "David Eastman appeal upheld". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Campbell, Roderick (10 October 2004). "Winchester murder trial, fair or not?". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)[dead link]
  5. ^ Kent, Paul (31 May 2014). "Killer of police commissioner finally extradited to the ACT". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Mosley, Lisa (10/08/2012). "Inquiry ordered into 1989 Winchester murder". Lateline. Retrieved 17 August 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Eastman inquiry recommends David Eastman's conviction be quashed, finds miscarriage of justice". 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  8. ^ Australian Associated Press (30 May 2014). "David Eastman's murder conviction should be quashed: inquiry". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Inquiry into the Conviction of David Harold Eastman for the Murder of Colin Stanley Winchester" (PDF). REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INQUIRY. Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Retrieved 31 May 2014.

External links

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