FOURTEEN years after Australia’s only political assassination, the shooting murder of western Sydney politician John Newman, theonly 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 that bedevilled the area and received numerous death threats as a result. He was shot dead outside his home in September 1994.

Following an inquest, three men were charged over his murder, but two were acquitted. Both speak out tonight.

Phuong Ngo, a Fairfield councillor and Labor rival of Newman, accused of masterminding the murder, has spent the past 10 years at one of Australia’s toughest jails, the Supermax facility in Goulburn. He was sentenced never to be released.

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 that 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 Ngo is innocent. Forensic and legal experts also express fears of a miscarriage of justice.

Senior Four Corners reporter Debbie Whitmont said lawyers who acted for the three men had long held concerns about the “safety” ofthe 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 also describes pre-trial negotiations in which investigators offered to drop a murder charge against him if he would testify against Ngo. He refused.

The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions did not return calls.