Transcript

COMPERE: Now to a new chapter in one of the longest ever investigations into police conduct in New South Wales.

It centres on the murder of 14-year-old Leigh Leigh 11 years ago. She was murdered at a party at Stockton Beach near Newcastle in 1989.

Only one local teenager was convicted of the murder despite allegations that a number of youths assaulted Leigh before she died.

Questions were also raised about the way that the police handled the murder inquiry, including how they treated witnesses.

Under pressure from the Leigh family and their lawyers, the Police Integrity Commission agreed to review the investigation and today the commission recommended the dismissal of one officer and that the DPP consider prosecuting five others.

Rebecca Barrett reports.

REBECCA BARRETT: Next month it will be 11 years since 14-year-old Leigh Leigh was assaulted and murdered at a party at the North Stockton Surf Club.

Local teenager Matthew Webster was charged with her murder but, despite his confession, there's been ongoing speculation about whether others were involved and the conduct of police.

In 1996, the New South Wales' Crime Commission re-investigated the murder and concluded that Matthew Webster acted alone when he committed the murder. It also highlighted problems with police procedures and practice.

The Crime Commission's report, released in 1998, was referred to the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) which today made public its findings.

The PIC has recommended prosecution and disciplinary action be considered against a number of officers.

The report calls for the dismissal of the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Lance Chaffey. It recommends internal police action against three officers and that the Director of Public Prosecutions consider charging another five officers.

John Boersig is the solicitor for Leigh Leigh's mother, Robyn.

JOHN BOERSIG: It's never been our intent to either persecute the police or to be directing our attention towards them. All our intention has been on behalf of our client to discover the truth. This consequence is a consequence of the police officer's own making, as far as I can see, and it's a travesty.

REBECCA BARRETT: The PIC found the convicted murderer, Matthew Webster, was falsely arrested and that it's likely he was assaulted by police on the day he was detained.

It's also criticised police for breaching instructions regarding the custody and interviewing of children by not contacting the parents of a child questioned about the murder.

But far from being the end of the matter John Boersig says a new investigation should now be launched into the consequences of the PIC's findings to determine if the way the murder inquiry was conducted was flawed.

JOHN BOERSIG: One of the most important consequences of a finding of misconduct would be a concern about the nature of the investigation and the conclusions reached in that investigation.

And certainly with matters of this nature coming to light that raises in question again the whole way that investigation was actually conducted by the police.

REBECCA BARRETT: John Boersig says the Leigh Leigh murder case has already had a profound effect on the New South Wales Police Service, and he hopes the PIC report will reinforce the need for police to conduct investigations with honesty and integrity.

COMPERE: Rebecca Barrett reporting.