Activist sues state over Keneally arrest after spending three weeks in jail
The strip search activist who was wrongly thrown in jail for three weeks after the police officer son of former NSW premier Kristina Keneally fabricated a statement is suing the state for malicious prosecution.
Luke Moore was arrested after Daniel Keneally falsely stated the Goulburn man had threatened that he wanted a regional detective 'dead' and that he was 'as good as gone'.
Keneally was subsequently charged and found guilty of falsifying an official report about the February 2021 phone call with Mr Moore, the founder of a website called iSuepolice.
The District Court was last year played a 12-minute recording of the phone call to Newtown Police Station in which Mr Moore complained about illegal strip searches.
During the call Mr Moore said he was calling every police station in the state to put them 'on notice' that if any officer performed an illegal strip search they would open themselves up to being sued.
Mr Moore said during the call that his company was suing NSW Police on behalf of alleged victims and was commanding five-figure sums in exchange for securing compensation for clients.
However he made no threats to the officer during the call.
Keneally was ordered to serve a 15-month intensive corrections order, pay a $2000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service after he last year lost an attempt to overturn his conviction, unsuccessfully arguing he had not intended to give false evidence.
Mr Moore is now suing the state for malicious prosecution and on Tuesday appeared in the NSW Supreme Court where he gave evidence about his three weeks in jail before he was let out and the charges were dropped because he had recorded his phone call with Keneally.
Mr Moore told the court on Tuesday morning that following his 2021 arrest, while in his cell his overheard a conversation between officers that police would be opposing his release on bail.
He said that from his cell, he called over an officer, who was in the jail complex, and told him that he had a recording of the conversation with Keneally on his phone and denied making any threats.
'I said … that I recorded all the phone calls that I made to the police station and they were all on my phone and if he went and got my phone it would prove I was telling the truth,' Mr Moore said.
He said he was told the phone had been taken into evidence and he would have to wait until it was processed.
He said he repeatedly pleaded with the detective: 'I didn't say those things' and urged him to check his phone.
It wasn't until the brief of evidence was served on him that he was able to listen to the recording which ultimately led to him being released.
Under cross examination, he accepted that during his police interview he was asked about any exculpatory evidence, but did not mention the recording, saying he may have misunderstood the question at the time.
Mr Moore was also cross examined about his conviction - which was overturned on appeal and quashed - for fraud charges after he overdrew $2.1m from a bank account to fund the purchase of cars, a boat and other luxury items.
Mr Moore was in 2015 jailed after being found guilty of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and dealing with the proceeds of crime. The convictions were then quashed and he was released from custody.
He was sentenced to a minimum of two years and three months in jail.
The court was told Mr Moore was on Centrelink when he opened a St George bank account which allowed him to overdraw and continually take out loans from the account.
The court heard he splurged on luxury cars like an Aston Martin, a Maserati and an Alfa Romeo, as well as purchasing art, despite having no prospect of paying back the money.
By the time it was frozen, the account had a negative balance of $2.1m.
The bank was able to recover over $1m from Mr Moore's other accounts, the court was told on Tuesday.
In 2016, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed his conviction after finding that while he acted dishonestly, he did not deceive the bank because the terms of the account allowed him to borrow money.
'Mr Moore what you did over those three years was dishonest wasn't it?' Barrister Adrian Williams, acting for the State of NSW, asked in court on Tuesday.
'It's been characterised as that,' Mr Moore said.
'Do you not accept that?' Mr Williams asked.
'There's no denying what I did wasn't honest,' Mr Moore said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
11 hours ago
- ABC News
Banora Point man may lose sight in one eye after acid attack, court told
A court has heard a 59-year-old man remains in an induced coma and could lose his sight in one eye after his son allegedly attacked him with acid in northern NSW. Randall Perrin Laurie, 35, made a brief appearance in the Tweed Heads Local Court on Friday accused of causing grievous bodily harm with a corrosive fluid. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail. Emergency service crews were called to a unit on Darlington Drive, Banora Point, about 9.15am on Thursday after receiving reports of a domestic violence-related incident. Police will allege a 59-year-old man was found at the scene suffering serious injuries caused by acid. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a serious condition. The 35-year-old man was arrested on Minjungbal Drive at Tweed Heads less than an hour later. Police applied to the court to seek DNA evidence from Mr Laurie as part of their investigation. In the Forensic Order Application tendered to the court, police allege the Mr Laurie bought a one-litre bottle of hydrochloric acid from a nearby hardware store about 8.50am on the day of the alleged attack. The 35-year-old is alleged to have asked a staff member, "does this burn you?" before saying someone had "poisoned his family" and he was going to "throw it on them". Police allege the man threw acid over his father's face and chest while shouting "get outside, I want to fight you, you dog". The older man has been placed in an induced coma, and doctors indicated he would lose all sight in his left eye. On Friday, defence lawyer Simon Enderwick told the court he had concerns about the accused man's ability to provide instructions to him, citing mental health concerns. The 35-year-old interjected throughout the proceedings, saying, "I don't want to go see a mental health or doctor please, if that's OK with you chief, lawyer". Bail was not applied for and formally refused. The matter is due to return to court on August 15.
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
Karen Webb gives important advice for other women rising through the ranks
Outgoing Police Commissioner Karen Webb has some important advice for other women rising through the ranks of the NSW Police Force. 'To other women I would say stay positive, stay focused and keep your eyes wide open,' Commissioner Webb said. Commissioner Webb concedes she was 'naive' about some elements of the job and the negative impact it has had on her partner and children. 'I applied for the job thinking, 'well, I've been in every rank, I know the organisation', and when I got the position description it's actually advertised as a CEO, so you know, maybe naively, I thought 'well I can do all that' but what the expectation was, and what it turned out to be, is different I guess.' On her last day in the top job Commissioner Webb revealed to she will be using her extensive 38-year career in policing to help end the scourge of domestic violence. She said she is 'not done yet', and has accepted a role with NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison, looking to using her experience, expertise and compassion to continue working for victims. 'Monday is day one of a new challenge. My policing career has really been primarily about the victims and I'm certainly not done yet. I have a lot more to give,' Ms Webb said on Friday. 'I am at the peak of my professional career, my leadership career and I am looking forward to this opportunity and future opportunities.' Ms Webb confirmed in May she would step down after discussions with her family. The Commissioner said it was a sad day, but she was buoyed by the support of her colleagues, the constant stream of messages from troops on the ground since she announced her retirement. 'I was stopped for a random breath test on my way back home to Boorowa one weekend and the officer, I didn't know her, she said she was really sad I was leaving,' Commissioner Webb said. 'I told her that I was really sad too. I mean there's lots of 'I'm happy' at the same time, happy to take the pressure off my family, happy at what I have achieved, but it's also sad. 'I've never been one to look back, because you can't change the past, but it's with a tinge of sadness as well. It's been a big part of my life, almost my entire professional life, for 38 years.' Ms Webb has been forced to deal with internal detractors leaking against her and constant criticism of her performance in front of the cameras for most of her tenure. She maintains she is a police officer, not a media personality, and her priority has always been to put her troops first. 'The headlines are there for everyone to see, they have been there for the entire three years of me in this role, so people can make up their minds about their assessments of my performance, I will leave that to public opinion not sections of Sydney.' She concedes she may have been 'naive' about some elements of the job and the negative impact it has had on her partner and children. 'I applied for the job thinking, 'well, I've been in every rank, I know the organisation', and when I got the position description it's actually advertised as a CEO, so you know, maybe naively, I thought 'well I can do all that' but what the expectation was, and what it turned out to be, is different I guess.' Ms Webb became the first woman appointed to become NSW police commissioner in February 2022, and led the force through a series of major events, including the Bondi Junction stabbings, the Dural caravan 'fake terrorism plot', and the alleged double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by a serving officer. She came under fire for comments she made, thanking alleged murderer Beau Lamarre-Condon for providing information about the location of the bodies and for opting not to watch footage of police officer Kristian White tasering 95-year-old Clare Nowland. Ms Webb was also investigated over the taxpayer-funded purchase of 50 bottles of gin which were handed out as gifts and charity donations. She was cleared of wrongdoing but cautioned that she should have disclosed her relationship with the gin supplier.  Reflecting on her three-and a half years in the top job, Ms Webb said she has 'never been one to look back, because you can't change the past'. 'I'm proud of what I have achieved, the changes I have made and police officers have always been my priority,' she said. 'I've walked in the officers' shoes, I started out as a constable and I have worked in all sorts of different roles and locations across the state, so I understand the challenges, the things they face.' In her new position the Commissioner will draw on the experiences and lessons learned by other states and territories in order to devise a framework to be presented back to the state Government by the end of September. She will work closely with general practitioners, allied health professions, childcare providers and lawyers in her new position - people with trusted relationships with victims-survivors. 'I think I have a lot to give in this space,' she said. 'The issue of DV is an urgent one, so we need to do everything we can as soon as we can to make sure we are helping victims and survivors the best way we can.' Ms Webb has held a passion for domestic violence work since her early days in general duties. 'Back in 1987 I worked in child abuse, dealing with victims and their families, then dealing with sexual assault, the victims and their families, so really a lot of my career has been around victims, particularly gender based violence and victims that don't have a voice. 'DV only became an offense the same time I joined the police, there has been so much change so really the next critical step in assisting victims and survivors, but also preventing domestic violence.' She said some of the most traumatic cases that have stuck in her mind during her time as commissioner are the brutal deaths of Danielle Finlay-Jones, Molly Ticehurst and Mackenzie Anderson. 'I guess the deaths of those three women have really stayed in my mind, because of the violent nature of the offending and the deadly consequences.' In a parting gift to her officers Ms Webb announced a new DV tool in the police arsenal, that will mean spending more time with victims. The mobile tool officers carry on jobs now allows them to complete log the full details of a 'DV episode' at the scene of an incident, apply for and serve ADVOS at the scene and see automated alerts relating to an offender's domestic violence history. 'This will mean police officers can spend more time with victims, cuts the paperwork and saves them time so they can be out responding to jobs rather than being tied up with paperwork.' Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison told 'I'm pleased that Commissioner Webb will be working with us in this new capacity as we continue our work to build a safer New South Wales. 'Commissioner Webb has spent years on the frontlines of addressing domestic, family and sexual violence. She has been a vocal advocate on the urgency to address this crisis and women's safety. 'I welcome her expertise and experience as we implement a New South Wales Common Approach to Safety.' The Minister said Commissioner Webb 'has spent years responding to domestic and family violence when it reaches a crisis point and knows how important it is that we strengthen our prevention and early intervention approaches'. 'The Common Approach to Safety framework is a key piece of work, which the government is investing in, to make sure workforces outside of the specialist domestic violence services can recognise, respond and refer any disclosures of abuse. 'This is a nationwide crisis, and it is important that all states and territories work together to address it. Commissioner Webb will play an essential role in consulting with other jurisdictions to ensure we are taking informed action that works. There's no doubt we can learn from what has and has not worked for other governments.' Ms Webb's replacement Peter Thurtell said on Friday that his predecessor should be 'proud for the rest of her life' of what she has achieved. 'The New South Wales Police Force was formed in 1862 when they merged a number of policing organisations and since that time, approximately 70,000 people have been members. Only 23 of those 70,000 have ever made it to the top, and only one of those 23 has ever been a female,' Mr Thurtell said. 'Our organisation will miss a leader with compassion who has the ability to relate to the men and women of the organisation. And I know I've said this to it before, but someone who's sharp as a tack.' Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith said Ms Webb had been a leader who supported and guided her troops while 'instilling authentic, humble and elegant leadership'. 'I think there is fundamentally in terms of what ma'am has brought to our organization an absolute focus on making sure that our people are our most valuable asset and placed first. 'We have really seen a change in our culture around respect, pride and trust, they are all the things our commissioner embodies. It's a sad day.' A little known fact about the outgoing leader is her ability to handle a weapon. Asked about rumours she remains one of the top shots at annual weapons training, she said 'Oh I don't know about that, I'm not too bad'. After a little more prodding she reluctantly reveals she's been getting close to perfect scores for the past 38 years. 'I don't find shooting hard, but yeah it's not everyone's comfort zone. But I was trained on the old Smith and Wesson, which is really quite hard to shoot with. So now these new Glocks and things, they seem much easier compared to that.' Commissioner Webb won't buy into the contest nor give her opinion on the contenders to replace her. Instead she is offering advice for rising females.
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- News.com.au
Man rushed to hospital after alleged acid attack in Banora Point, NSW
A man has been charged after allegedly pouring acid over another man, who is in hospital with serious injuries. A man has been rushed to hospital after suffering acid burn injuries in an alleged domestic-violence incident in the NSW Northern Rivers on Thursday. Emergency services were called to a Banora Point unit on Darlington Drive, near Tweed Heads, just after 9am, following reports of a domestic-violence incident. The 59-year-old was found by NSW Police to be suffering 'serious injuries believed to be caused by an acid'. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and subsequently flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a serious condition. A 35-year-old man was arrested at Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads. He was charged with do grievous bodily harm by the use of corrosive fluid etc (DV). Police allege he poured acid on the other man, who was known to him. The accused has been refused bail and is due to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court on Friday.
