Kyla
04-13-2004, 03:54 AM
Snowtown killer 'denied papers'
April 13, 2004
A SOUTH Australian Supreme Court judge today ordered an investigation into claims Australia's worst serial killer had been refused access to his legal papers.
John Justin Bunting, 37, was granted more time to argue his appeal against 11 murder convictions after telling the court he was not ready to argue his case because he did not have his paperwork.
Bunting is representing himself after the Government refused to allocate further legal aid funding for an appeal.
He said he had complained to the state ombudsman about the "gross incompetence" of prison staff who refused to hand over his notes.
"I would ask you ... to ask the prison to hand over the documents I have requested," Bunting told Justice John Perry.
"I need access to my paperwork. I have none of the original notes I have taken in court - none at all."
Justice Perry said he would ask the court sheriff to investigate the matter and prepare a report.
He adjourned argument for Bunting's application to appeal until May 24 but warned no further delays would be tolerated.
Justice Perry advised Bunting he should base his argument around legal points made in a draft outline by his former lawyer Mark Griffin, adding "it would be a very difficult job for somebody without legal training".
Last year, Bunting was found guilty of 11 murders in the infamous bodies-in-barrels case.
The convictions related to the discovery of eight bodies in a disused bank vault at Snowtown, north of Adelaide, and three other bodies found elsewhere in SA.
Bunting's co-killer, Robert Joe Wagner, was found guilty of seven murders in a joint trial with Bunting.
Wagner, 32, had previously confessed to three other murders before the trial started.
Lawyers for Wagner today started arguing 86 grounds for appeal against his conviction, including that trial judge Justice Brian Martin had erred in combining the charges relating to the bodies found at Snowtown and those found elsewhere in one trial.
Justice Perry indicated the hearing to decide whether Wagner could appeal could take two weeks.
Another man will face pre-trial argument next week for his alleged involvement in the murders.
AAP
April 13, 2004
A SOUTH Australian Supreme Court judge today ordered an investigation into claims Australia's worst serial killer had been refused access to his legal papers.
John Justin Bunting, 37, was granted more time to argue his appeal against 11 murder convictions after telling the court he was not ready to argue his case because he did not have his paperwork.
Bunting is representing himself after the Government refused to allocate further legal aid funding for an appeal.
He said he had complained to the state ombudsman about the "gross incompetence" of prison staff who refused to hand over his notes.
"I would ask you ... to ask the prison to hand over the documents I have requested," Bunting told Justice John Perry.
"I need access to my paperwork. I have none of the original notes I have taken in court - none at all."
Justice Perry said he would ask the court sheriff to investigate the matter and prepare a report.
He adjourned argument for Bunting's application to appeal until May 24 but warned no further delays would be tolerated.
Justice Perry advised Bunting he should base his argument around legal points made in a draft outline by his former lawyer Mark Griffin, adding "it would be a very difficult job for somebody without legal training".
Last year, Bunting was found guilty of 11 murders in the infamous bodies-in-barrels case.
The convictions related to the discovery of eight bodies in a disused bank vault at Snowtown, north of Adelaide, and three other bodies found elsewhere in SA.
Bunting's co-killer, Robert Joe Wagner, was found guilty of seven murders in a joint trial with Bunting.
Wagner, 32, had previously confessed to three other murders before the trial started.
Lawyers for Wagner today started arguing 86 grounds for appeal against his conviction, including that trial judge Justice Brian Martin had erred in combining the charges relating to the bodies found at Snowtown and those found elsewhere in one trial.
Justice Perry indicated the hearing to decide whether Wagner could appeal could take two weeks.
Another man will face pre-trial argument next week for his alleged involvement in the murders.
AAP