Four other bail decisions – including that of Salim Hamze,who was killed in a gangland attack in October,and Finks bikie Daniel Middlebrook – were also highlighted by Mr Speakman in his request to the Bail Act Monitoring Group.
On Wednesday,after police recaptured Mr Baluch at the Queensland border,Mr Speakman said the “poor outcome” in that case was one that had prompted him to ask the group to look at whether bail laws were adequate.
“That’s what we want to investigate,to see if there’s a need for reform,” he said.
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“When that is against the backdrop of tens of thousands of cases that judicial officers have to determine every year,we have to make sure that a few bad headlines do not lead to changes.”
In his letter to the group,Mr Speakman has requested a briefing and recommendations on “any legislative,operational or procedural reforms” that may be necessary or appropriate after a “spate of contentious bail decisions”.
The Department of Communities and Justice,NSW Police,Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,NSW Legal Aid Commission,the Department of Premier and Cabinet,the Aboriginal Legal Service and Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research are all represented in the group.