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Lawyer X, organised crime and controversial media leaks
Almost a decade ago, a former and contentious Victoria Police deputy commissioner was looking into the media leaks following the murder of Carl Williams. A new document now seems to suggest that Nicola Gobbo was behind it all.
Naomi Neilson
In 2010, former deputy commissioner Sir Ken Jones scribbled over the “Driver Taskforce, Phase 1” report. On it, he wrote a note to “Simon” – assumedly chief commissioner Simon Overland – and included “eyes only”. What the rest of the report detailed, however, is the trouble Victoria Police had in ensuring its details on crime were for its eyes only.
Sir Jones seems to be critiquing this report, with numerous sentences underlined, a note, and question or exclamation marks left throughout it all. Ironically, not much later, he was believed to have left the force because he was accused of leaking information to the media – which led to a very public spat between himself and Mr Overland.
During his evidence before an inquiry into Ms Gobbo’s handling by Victoria Police, he had no love left for his former employer: “It began as highly irregular and unethical and [then] deteriorated over a number of years to something that was illegal and chaotic.”
In the Driver Taskforce report, it notes several media articles that reveal the extent Victoria Police worked with Mr Williams to solve gangland murders and look into corrupt members of police, allegedly Paul Dale. Another article detailed how Victoria Police considered how and if they should pay for Mr William’s daughter’s school fees while he was behind bars.
The report listed assumptions that, while Mr Dale was facing charges for murdering Terry and Christine Hodson – a charge that fell short – in 2010, his legal team had subpoenaed Victoria Police and established that Ms Gobbo was helping them.
It then goes on to confirm Mr William’s wife, Roberta, had no contact with the media prior to his death, but could have passed on information through an unattached journalist: “It’s alleged that [the journalist] obtained information from either Nicola [or] Roberta or both.”
Further down the report, the Petra Taskforce advised that subpoenas filed for the solicitor acting for Mr Dale were seeking material relating to dealings with Mr Williams. Officers in charge became suspicious when the solicitors were able to name certain members from the taskforce, who were covertly engaged to work with Ms Gobbo only.
Investigators were also suspicious of how the defence were able to name specific documents by title, even though none of said documents had been previously discussed in court.
“Petra Taskforce hold [a] strong suspicion that Gobbo (or her solicitors) provided Mr Dale [and his] solicitors (or representatives) and Herald Sun reporter with this information. This information allowed the defence to fill subpoenas seeking out specific information which otherwise would have been unknown to them,” the report noted.
“It also allowed the media to publish an article with specific information which would have otherwise not have been known to them.”
As a result of the leaks and allegations, the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office (VGSO) recommended that when documents are requested under a subpoena, the force should “seek an injunction not to release the documents due to the effect it may have”.
The inquiry into Lawyer X’s management will resume on 7 May 2020.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
