Australia: Crooked cop behind wrongful conviction

Previous mention of the Stafford case on June 3rd

ONE of the state's most notorious killers will launch a fresh bid to clear his name within weeks as a cloud hangs over the detective who produced one of the key pieces of evidence to convict him. Graham Stafford remains adamant that he did not kill 12-year-old Ipswich schoolgirl Leanne Holland in 1991 and his family are planning an appeal to overturn the conviction, despite his release on parole earlier this year.

It comes as the Crime and Misconduct Commission continues to probe Detective Senior-Sergeant Graham Richards, the officer who arrested and charged Stafford for the brutal slaying. Sgt Richards was last month identified as one of four officers at the centre of an investigation by the CMC over alleged improper relationships between prisoners and police. Sgt Richards, the officer in charge of Rockhampton CIB, has been stood down pending the outcome of that investigation.

He was disciplined for a separate matter when the CMC found that he failed to comply with police guidelines and the Police, Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000; unlawfully detained a woman and lied to CMC investigators during a disciplinary interview.

Sgt Richards was serving as a senior-constable when assigned to investigate Holland's murder. His evidence at Stafford's trial was crucial in securing a murder conviction.The Courier-Mail, which broke the news of the CMC investigation, can reveal that Sgt Richards was responsible for identifying a maggot – used as a crucial piece of evidence – found in the boot of his car as being of similar size to one found on Holland's decomposing body.

Stafford's mother Jean told The Courier-Mail yesterday she "couldn't help but notice" the link and hoped it would boost her son's push to have his name cleared. But, she said she did not want to comment further so as not to interfere with an appeal against her son's conviction expected to be lodged within the next few weeks. "I have to be careful what I say (at the moment)," she said.

Sgt Richards and his partner, Detective Senior-Constable Allan Fynes-Clinton, were also responsible for interrogating Stafford and subsequently charging him with her rape and murder. Shortly after the murder, Constable Fynes-Clinton told Stafford's committal hearing that Sgt Richards had been the officer who reported finding a maggot.

Stafford, 44, continues to deny any involvement in slaying Holland with a hammer. Holland disappeared from the Goodna home she shared with Stafford and her sister, his girlfriend, on September 23, 1991. Her body was found in bushland at Redbank Plains three days later. Stafford was convicted of her murder on March 25, 1992. Stafford launched two unsuccessful appeals against his conviction. In rejecting his second appeal in 1998, Justice Michael McHugh made special reference to evidence against Stafford, including the maggot reported by Sgt Richards. "You have blood and maggots linked to the girl in the car boot, a missing mallet, his car tyre marks at the scene, an injury to his arm he could not explain, the fact he put out the garbage when it was not his job, the fact he was alone with the girl – these are just a few," Justice McHugh said.

A police spokeswoman yesterday said Commissioner Bob Atkinson would not comment due to the ongoing CMC investigation. A spokesman for Attorney-General Kerry Shine said the department had yet to receive any petition for Stafford to be granted a pardon.

Report here



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