SA: Snowtown suppression appeals continue

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2000
SA: Snowtown suppression appeals continue

EDS: This story can be used by all subscribers, including South Australia.



ADELAIDE, Dec 20 AAP - Appeals against suppressions in the bodies-in-barrels murder
case were continuing today in the South Australian Supreme Court.

Lawyers representing 13 media outlets have appealed against suppressions imposed in
the committal hearing, in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, of four men charged over the
murder 10 people.

Magistrate David Gurry last week suppressed the Crown prosecutor's opening address
and the evidence of three pathologists who performed post mortem examinations on the 10
victims.

Mr Gurry also suppressed the reasons for his orders.

Yesterday in the Supreme Court, Justice Brian Martin lifted suppressions on Mr Gurry's reasons.

Justice Martin today has heard legal argument about whether to lift the suppressions
on the Crown opening and pathologists' evidence.

He will continue hearing the appeal this afternoon, when the committal hearing of the
four men is also expected to resume.

Three men - Robert Joe Wagner, 28, of Elizabeth Grove, John Justin Bunting, 34, of
Craigmore, and Mark Ray Haydon, 42, of Smithfield Plains - face 10 murder charges.

A fourth man, James Spyridon Vlassakis, 20, of Craigmore, faces five murder charges.

AAP sl/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: SNOWTOWN LEAD

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