Slack Australian prosecutors

The Director of Public Prosecutions' office is under official investigation for allegedly dismissing a dead man's family with the words "You should have gotten over it by now." The slur has compounded the grief for the family of slain Woolloomooloo publican Shane Miles, whose killers yesterday enjoyed "disgraceful" sentences of between three and seven years.

The family of Mr Miles - who was struck dead with a bar stool in 2004 - alleges Crown solicitor Patrick Barrett told them, "Oh, you should have gotten over it by now". Mr Miles' brother Rory made the accusations outside the Supreme Court yesterday after the sentencing of the killers.

Concerns over the DPP's decision to downgrade a murder charge to manslaughter were also allegedly dismissed with disregard for the family. "The day before the trial he announced he was going to accept manslaughter," Mr Miles' sister Erin Peterson said. Ms Peterson said she challenged the decision and asked if there was someone "other than you I can speak to about it?" and he said, "No I make the decisions."

The family's anguish was aired yesterday at the Supreme Court when the four men convicted over Mr Miles' death at the Bells Hotel in Woolloomooloo were given sentences ranging from three to seven years. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves," Mr Miles' brother Danny Miles yelled towards the bar table. "What a disgrace... What a waste of time."

Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said an officer from his department had been investigating the conduct claims against Mr Barrett and the decision to accept a lesser offence for a guilty plea since early August. But the DPP will face even further scrutiny next week with a legislative move by the Government to abolish the lifetime tenure of the director and 100 crown solicitors. The Daily Telegraph understands a Bill will be taken to Cabinet on Monday, and introduced as early as Wednesday, which will establish limited terms for the director - possibly as short as seven years.

However it won't apply retrospectively to the current director Nicholas Cowdery QC. It is also believed that a DPP committee may be created to oversee "special" decisions made by the DPP, such as not continuing with a prosecution. Mr Hatzistergos confirmed a Bill was "imminent" which would cover a range of issues with the DPP office.

Tongan-born Joseph Leota, Etuate Taiseni, Amaniasi Tuifua and Taniela Motuapuaka pleaded guilty earlier this year to manslaughter, on the eve of their trial for murder. Mr Miles, 47, died after being hit in the head with a bar stool during a wild brawl at the Bells Hotel on December 18, 2004. The DPP could not be contacted for comment last night.

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