Sharon Mason murder trial to be brought forward

28/6/93

State Cabinet has approved the appointment of a special Commissioner of the Supreme Court to allow the trial of the man charged with the wilful murder of Sharon Mason to be brought forward.

Attorney General Cheryl Edwardes said the decision followed concern by the Government and judiciary at the listing of the trial for December this year - meaning the accused, Arthur Boycott Greer, would have spent 16 months in custody before the case was heard.

"This is totally unsatisfactory and goes against the Government's election commitment to reduce delays in the Supreme Court," Mrs Edwardes said. 

"The accused was committed for trial after a preliminary hearing in March, but because it needs to be set down for two weeks the earliest possible dates were in December."

Mrs Edwardes said trial time would now be made available in August. 

"However, because all Supreme Court judges will be committed at this time to another initiative aimed at cutting the case backlog - the August Court Blitz - a commissioner will be appointed to hear the trial," she said. 

"One of the most experienced and respected criminal lawyers in the State, Geoffrey Miller QC, has agreed to accept the appointment as commissioner for the duration of the Greer trial."

Mrs Edwardes said that because of the unavailability of courts in the Supreme Court, a courtroom would be made available in the District Court or the Central Law Courts for the purposes of the trial. 

"If the trial does go ahead in August, the period between the committal of the accused and his trial would be four months - a much more satisfactory situation than the eight months which would apply to a December trial," she said.

Mrs Edwardes said the appointment of the Commissioner was another example of the Coalition Government's commitment to improve the delivery of justice in Western Australia - a commitment shared by the State's judiciary. 

Media contact: Casey Cahill 222 9595