Inquiry hears magistrate’s suspicions

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 9

Inquiry hears magistrate’s suspicions

NZPA Sydney A retired magistrate told the Street Royal Commission yesterday he had suspected the racing identity, George Freeman, and- hot the Premier of New South Wales, Mr Neville Wran, of having exerted influence in an attempt to have charges against the former New South Wales Rugby league chief, Kevin Humphreys, dismissed. The commission was told that Freeman, who left hospital earlier yesterday to briefly attend the hearing, had been described by the former Chief. Stipendary Magistrate, Mr Murray Farquhar, as a commission agent when accused by the

witness of being a criminal. The former Deputy Chairman of Magistrates, Mr Walter John Lewer, told the Commissioner, Mr Justice Street, of having doubted any suggestion there had been a telephone call from Mr Wran to Mr Farquhar on the morning of the case and said he had “no concrete evidence against Mr Wran.” The hearing resumed yesterday before another packed courtroom in the Supreme Court building. Mr Wran was again present throughout the proceedings and late yesterday his senior counsel, Mr Alex Shand, Q.C. began crossexamination' of Mr Lewer, who has been in the witness box for two days and was

still being questioned when the proceedings were ad- • journed until 10 a.m. today, s Mr Wran stepped aside as ! Premier of.. New South I Wales last month when the I State Attorney-General, Mr i Paul Landa, announced the i setting up of the Royal I Commission after allega- > tions made in the "Four Corners” ‘television programme. The commission is inquirs ing into whether Mr Farquhar influenced or attempted to influence the outcome of the charges i against Kevin Humphreys : and, if so, whether he was acting at the direction or , request of Mr Wran. ! On August 12, 1977, after ? a two-day hearing, a Magis-

trate, Mr K. Jones, dismissed nine charges against Mr Humphreys of allegedly misappropriating $52,519 from the Balmain Leagues Club. Mr Humphreys recently resigned as executive director of the New South Wales Rugby League. He resigned the post last month. When the hearing began last week, evidence was given by a magistrate thaf on the morning of the first day of the Humphreys case the chairman of the Stipendary Magistrates, Mr Farquhar, was told by his secretary that the Premies was on the telephone. Mr Jones told the commission that Mr Farquhai had told him that the

>- Premier had telephoned and it stated that he did not want y Humphreys committed for 9 , trial. s In other evidence yestery day, the third day of the r. hearing: s • The magistrate who d dismissed the charges against Humphreys, Mr n Kevin Jones, S.M., allegedly s said he had been reduced to it “dirt” by Mr Farquhar over >t the case. e i- ® A former magistrate •- said he suspected a policeis man of having made a myst tery phone call to the Central Court several hours i- before the Humphreys case r was concluded claiming the e charges would be dismissed

as the Premier had intervened. © A witness admitted having told Australian Broadcasting Corporation representatives associated with the programme “Four Corners,” which dealt with the Humphreys case, that “the bastard had got away with a lot more than he was charged with.” • A lot of pressure had been put on certain police associated with the prosecution. •Mr Lewer said he thought the Premier would not be so stupid as to telephone and seek to influence the outcome of the case as alleged.