BN- A POLICE officer accused of corruption and drug trafficking has failed in a bid to keep her identity a secret, despite claiming she h...
BN- A POLICE officer accused of corruption and drug trafficking has failed in a bid to keep her identity a secret, despite claiming she has been targeted by the state’s newest bikie gang.
On Tuesday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court declined to continue an interim suppression order on the name and image of suspended SA Police officer Hayley May Greenwood.
Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal said Greenwood had failed to prove publicity of her case would have a sufficiently serious impact upon the proper administration of justice.
Her Honour’s ruling came at the end of a closed court hearing during which Greenwood claimed that her work at Christies Beach had roused the ire of the Rock Machine outlaw gang.
On Tuesday, Greenwood also claimed exposing her identity would prejudice several ongoing police investigations — assertions that prosecutor David Westover said had no basis in reality.
“From time to time, police officers are charged with offences or disciplinary matters, and there’s little weight that can be placed on that (to warrant suppression),” he said.
“None of those matters impact on Greenwood’s ability to have a fair trial, nor on the public’s right to know, nor on the media’s right to inform the public.
“If she is at risk then she will be treated no differently, by SA Police, than any other member of the public — but these are the risks police officers take to perform their role.”
Greenwood, 25, was arrested in August after an investigation by the SA Police Anti-Corruption Branch and the Independent Commission Against Corruption
She first faced court on Friday charged with one count of abuse of public office, one count of drug trafficking and one aggravated count of theft.
It is alleged that, among her offences, Greenwood stole a can of pepper spray.
During Friday’s hearing, the court imposed an interim suppression order prohibiting publication of Greenwood’s identity, pending further legal argument.
On Monday, defence counsel Joseph Henderson said that order should be made permanent to protect both ongoing investigations and his client’s safety.
He said that, until her suspension, Greenwood’s role at Christies Beach CIB saw her play a key part in a bikie case and a child sex crime case.
“If her identity is disclosed and she is called to give evidence in those matters, her credit will be called into question,” he said.
“She has developed a rapport with the (sex crime) complainant ... her concern is that, if she is named, that person might become reticent or reluctant to continue with the matter.”
He said Greenwood had “a few” confidential informants, one of whom would be placed at risk by publication of her name.
“He’s an unregistered human source,” he said.
Mr Henderson said Greenwood “lived in close proximity” to persons she believed were associated with Rock Machine and was already fearful for her safety.
One of those people, he said, was charged with breaching his home detention bail after Greenwood saw him in a local cafe.
He said that, were Greenwood named, the associates may think she no longer enjoyed police protection and therefore find her “an easy target” for retribution.
Sergeant Westover, however, said Greenwood was being “too liberal” with suppression order laws and “sought to expand” legislation to suit her needs.
He said her assertions of potential prejudice to the proper administration of justice were not backed up by evidence.
“To say she has an unregistered human source is a misinterpretation — an officer cannot have an unregistered human source, and she has not disclosed the person’s name,” he said.
“Our records show she has only ever disclosed one human source, and that was for a firearms matter.
“If she was called to give evidence in trials, these charges would be disclosed to defence counsel and her credit would be in issue anyway.”
Sgt Westover said the fears Greenwood had expressed “had no substance to them”.
He said SA Police did not believe the people who lived near her had any ties to Rock Machine beyond a personal friendship with the man on home detention.
“She seeks to tar them all with the same brush,” he said.
“She is not a ‘lynchpin’ in this case and, in the five months since the alleged breach of bail, the man has made no threats or acted aggressively toward her.
“There’s no evidence other than her perception.”
Ms Hribal ordered the interim suppression lapse and remanded Greenwood on continuing bail to face court again in November.
More: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sa-court-refuses-to-suppress-identity-of-police-officer-hayley-may-greenwood-over-corruption-charges-stemming-from-icac-arrest/story-fni6uo1m-1227538687579
