‘Fright’ went wrong

Press, 17 March 1983, Page 4

‘Fright’ went wrong

NZPA Melbourne A suspended Melbourne policeman charged with unlawfully killing a policewoman believed that he had loaded a service revolver with a practice bullet before he fired it at the woman, a court was told yesterday. Michael Francis Vincent Duffy, aged 25, of suburban Fairfield, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court before Mr John Duggan, S.M. No plea was required. . - The police prosecutor,. In-' spector John Balloch, told the Magistrate that 'Duffy had taken a police pistol from Sunshine Police

Station. He later went to return the pistol to the duty policewoman, Constable Clare Frances Bourke, he said. Inspector Balloch said that Duffy had removed what he believed was a practice bullet from his pocket, placed it in the revolver, pointed it at the policewoman, and fired it. He said that Duffy’s intention was not to harm Constable Bourke but "to give her a fright.” Constable Bourke, who was 23, died almost instantly after being wounded in the chest. Counsel for Duffy, Mr T.

Barrett, said that his client was suffering from shock and it was the intention to take him to the police hospital after the hearing.

The court was told that Duffy had been in the police six years, was married, and his wife was expecting a child. While terms of bail were being negotiated, Duffy collapsed and the court was adjourned for two minutes. The Magistrate then announced that bail would be granted in his own recognisance with one surety of sAust3ooo. He remanded,Duffy to the same court on v March 23.