Qld: Review of sex cases to be released after Aurukun appeal

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2008
Qld: Review of sex cases to be released after Aurukun appeal

BRISBANE, Feb 12 AAP - A review into sex offence sentences in far north Queensland
indigenous communities will not be released until an appeal into a gang rape case involving
a 10-year-old girl is heard, the state government says.

Barrister Peter Davis has been reviewing sex offence sentences in Cape York indigenous
communities over the past two years.

Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine last year asked for the investigation after
public outrage over the gang rape of a 10-year-old girl at Aurukun.

Cairns-based District Court judge Sarah Bradley did not record convictions against
six juveniles and gave three others aged 17, 18 and 26 suspended sentences over the 2006
rape.

Mr Shine is appealing the sentences, and told state parliament today that the case
was scheduled to be heard in the Court of Appeal tomorrow.

He said he received Mr Davis's report yesterday, but it could not be publicly released
until the Aurukun appeal was heard.

"As the appeal is yet to be heard, I have received correspondence from Mr Davis and
from the solicitor-general Walter Sofronoff QC, who will conduct the appeal on my behalf,
asking that the details of the report not be made public until after the Court of Appeal
has handed down its decision," Mr Shine said.

"Messrs Davis and Sofronoff have asked that I do not release the report so as to jeopardise
the appeal through the release of information which may impact upon it."

Mr Shine said the state government's response to the gang rape case had been "open
and accountable", but it could not prejudice the trial.

"We have no interest in withholding details of the Davis report for any longer than
they need to be and they will be released at the first opportunity available," Mr Shine
said.

AAP rm/pjo/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: AURUKUN

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