Vic: Secret witness in murder case named

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2010
Vic: Secret witness in murder case named

By Melissa Iaria

MELBOURNE, April 30 AAP - A prominent lawyer who has represented gangland figures,
including slain killer Carl Williams, will be the key prosecution witness against a former
Victorian detective charged with murder.

A court suppression was lifted late on Friday allowing Melbourne criminal lawyer Nicola
Gobbo to be named as a prosecution witness in the case of former Victorian drug squad
detective Paul Dale.

Dale is charged with the 2004 murder of police informer Terence Hodson who was shot
dead along with his wife Christine at their Kew home.

Police allege Dale wanted Hodson murdered because he planned to give evidence against
him in a court case.

They have said Ms Gobbo voluntarily made a statement in relation to the murder and
that her evidence is crucial to the case.

She went into hiding after believing she was at high risk.

Ms Gobbo is now suing the Victorian government and Victoria Police for alleged breaches
of duty of care in relation to the deal she made with police to testify.

Ms Gobbo has had close dealings with a number of organised crime figures and her clients
included Williams and Melbourne gangland figure Lewis Moran who was shot dead at a Melbourne
hotel in 2004.

AAP mi/pmu/ash/cdh

KEYWORD: DALE WRAP

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.