The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lloyd Blabb has announced an independent review into his previous decisions not to prosecute over the death of Lynette Daley, 33, also known as Norma.
In a statement he says that he is taking this "unusual step" due to "recent media reports" that have raised questions about his decision.
Lynette’s body was found naked, bruised and bloody after camping overnight at Ten Mile Beach in Northern NSW with Paul Maris and Adrian Attwater in January 2011.
An autopsy report would later find that Lynette died from blunt force genital trauma and that she had a blood alcohol level of 0.35. Two men were charged over her death - Mr Attwater with manslaughter and Mr Maris with accessory after the fact.
The coroner in 2014 also expressed his “contempt and disgust for the callous disregard for her welfare” by the two men and referred the case to the DPP.
However, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions declined to prosecute on two separate occasions, once in 2012 and again in 2016 - a decision that shocked Lynette’s family and has drawn criticism from many quarters.
Professor Marcia Langton has told 'The Point’ that there was “no rational reason for not prosecuting”, and the decision showed “a general tolerance for violence against Indigenous women”.
A review of the case by the DPP was already underway after the NSW Attorney General Gabrielle Upton asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to review the decision in February this year.
Mr Blabb says that review will now be overseen by two “independent” and “highly regarded barristers” to determine “whether the correct decision was made”.
Daley family demand meeting with NSW Attorney General over daughter’s death
Pressure on the NSW Government and the state prosecutor has been growing throughout week after the ABC’s 'Four Corners' aired an investigation into the death on Monday.
An online petition demanding answers from the DPP over his decision not to prosecute the two men has over 50 thousand signatures.
The family of Lynette Daley are also calling for a meeting with the NSW Attorney General.
In a personal message posted on the change.org petition, Lynette’s parents Gordan and Thelma say they will be “calling the Attorney General’s office” to demand a meeting and some “answers on why justice for Lynette has not been served.”
They also say the “support from all Australians all over the country has been overwhelming”, and has helped them “find the strength to pull together.”
Source: The Point
