Qld: Investigation found a scapegoat, that's all: opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2007
Qld: Investigation found a scapegoat, that's all: opposition

BRISBANE, Dec 26 AAP - An investigation by Queensland's DPP into a senior legal officer's
decision not to recommend jail terms for any of nine males convicted of raping a 10-year-old
girl has done little more than find a scapegoat, Queensland's opposition says.

Attorney-General Kerry Shine said on Monday the legal officer who handled the case,
Steve Carter, would be asked to show cause why he should not face disciplinary action
following an investigation by Director of Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare.

Mr Carter was stood down with full pay earlier this month after it was revealed he
had described the 2006 gang rape to Cairns District Court as "childish experimentation"

and consensual "in a general sense".

District Court judge Sarah Bradley did not impose prison sentences on any of the males,
three adults and sick juveniles, after Mr Carter failed to ask for custody terms in his
submissions to court.

However, Acting Opposition Leader Mark McArdle today criticised the probe as a "political
fix" and again called for an independent inquiry into the case.

He said he was was concerned that the DPP's "self-reflection" had stopped when it had
found a political scapegoat.

"Queenslanders expected the DPP's internal investigation would be more sophisticated
than simply making a Crown Prosecutor the public fall guy and a departmental decision
`on what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken', he said.

AAP ews/jfm/de

KEYWORD: GANG

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