6 APRIL 2008:
John Stapleton
FOURTEEN years after Australia’s first political assassination, the shooting murder of western Sydney politician John Newman, the only man in jail over the incident could well be innocent, according to an ABC report to screen tonight.
John Stapleton
FOURTEEN years after Australia’s first political assassination, the shooting murder of western Sydney politician John Newman, the only man in jail over the incident could well be innocent, according to an ABC report to screen tonight.
Newman was the much admired Labor member for the western Sydney seat of Cabramatta, long known as the city’s heroin capital. He had waged a campaign to break up the Asian crime gangs which bedevilled the area and received numerous death threats as a result. He was shot and killed outside his home in September, 1994.
Following an inquest three men were charged over his murder. The two men charged with carrying out the murder were both acquitted by a jury. Both speak out tonight for the first time.
Phuong Ngo, a Fairfield Counsellor and Labor Party rival of Newman, accused of masterminding the murder, has spent the last 10 years at one of Australia’s toughest jails, the “Supermax” facility in Goulbourn. He has been sentenced never to be released.
Phong Ngo has always protested his innocence. It took seven years of legal proceedings for him to be convicted, including three trials, two of which were aborted and one which resulted in a hung jury. After his conviction he appealed and failed and then lost a bid to take his case to the High Court.
Quang Dao, accused of driving the shooter to the scene, and David Dinh, accused of shooting Newman, both claim Phuong Ngo is innocent.
Forensic and legal experts also express fears of a miscarriage of justice.
Senior Four Corners reporter Debbie Whitmont said lawyers who had acted for the defence of the three men had long held concerns about the “safety” of the verdict.
Senior Four Corners reporter Debbie Whitmont said lawyers who had acted for the defence of the three men had long held concerns about the “safety” of the verdict.
“Having looked at the evidence, there are concerns about the findings,” she said. “I think there should be an inquiry into the way some of the evidence was obtained. I hope the authorities will re-examine this case.”
Quang Dao, a community worker at the Mekong Club that Phuong Ngo set up, says he is convinced Ngo is innocent.
“I know absolutely for sure that Phuong is not involved in that murder,” he said. “There’s a guy who wouldn’t do zip and he’s been stuck 10 years – and if I don’t say it, he’ll die in there. For what? Nothing. How would I live with myself?”
“I know absolutely for sure that Phuong is not involved in that murder,” he said. “There’s a guy who wouldn’t do zip and he’s been stuck 10 years – and if I don’t say it, he’ll die in there. For what? Nothing. How would I live with myself?”
Quang Dao also describes pre-trial negotiations in which investigators offered to drop a murder charge against him if he would testify to the guilt of Phuong Ngo. He refused.
The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions did not return calls yesterday. A spokeswoman for NSW Corrective Services said Phuong Ngo was being held in the high risk management unit at the Supermax.