Blackmail prices in opposition to former Labor MP Annabel Digance and her husband Greg Digance have been dropped following a court docket look as we speak.
The Workplace of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed this afternoon that the matter was resolved and prices had been dropped after a District Courtroom listening to as we speak, forward of a scheduled trial starting subsequent month.
The pair had been arrested at their house in April 2021 and accused of trying to blackmail then state Opposition chief Peter Malinauskas.
Annabel Digance held the state seat of Elder for a time period earlier than dropping it on the 2018 election.
She and her husband Greg confronted prices of “menacing” Malinauskas in 2020, “to get him to undergo a requirement” that the previous MP be preselected for one more winnable seat.
The Digances pleaded not responsible in a District Courtroom arraignment. Their defence submitted that that they had no case to reply and that the fees had been “malicious” and an “abuse of course of”.
Premier Malinauskas held a press convention on the matter a short while in the past.
“Can I begin by saying I’m grateful for the work of the SA police and the workplace of the DPP, I’m significantly relieved this matter has now been resolved,” he mentioned.
Get InDaily in your inbox. Every day. One of the best native information each workday at lunch time.
Thanks for signing as much as the InDaily e-newsletter.
“It hasn’t been a very fulfilling expertise however now there’s an consequence that I very a lot welcome I hope that South Australians will be assured round our democratic system.”
Malinauskas mentioned that he understood the court docket “has put an intervention order in place to make sure that I received’t be capable to be contacted once more by Mr and Mrs Digance”.
“Ought to a trial have gone forward I’d have participated in it willingly, I made that identified, however that wasn’t essentially my choice.
“If there’s something, it has been an perception into how prolonged the prison justice course of will be.”
Requested if there was adequate proof to take the case to trial, Malinauskas mentioned: “There was adequate proof to cost and I believe all the pieces was on monitor for a trial till this latest improvement, which is one which I welcome.”
Native Information Issues
Media variety is beneath menace in Australia – nowhere extra so than in South Australia. The state wants a couple of voice to information it ahead and you’ll assist with a donation of any measurement to InDaily. Your contribution goes on to serving to our journalists uncover the info. Please click on beneath to assist InDaily proceed to uncover the info.
Donate as we speak
Powered by
PressPatron
