Former lawyer Nicola Gobbo may have had an ‘intimate relationship’ with one of the police officers who first registered her as a informer, an inquest has been told.
Ms Gobbo, known as Lawyer X or 3838, was a criminal barrister who represented some of the most notorious Victorian gangland figures, while acting as a police informer, between 1995 and 2009.
She is the current focus of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants, which is an inquiry into the number, and extent of, criminal cases affected by her conduct.
Former lawyer Nicola Gobbo (pictured) may have had an ‘intimate relationship’ with one of the police officers who first registered her as a informer, an inquest has been told
On Friday, the inquest heard Ms Gobbo may have developed intimate relations with her police handler and police who looked after the criminal lawyer were ‘unfairly dismissed’.
Trevor Ashton, one of the policemen who was involved in registering Lawyer X in 1995, was cross-examined during the inquest.
Rishi Nathwani, Ms Gobbo’s lawyer, asked Inspector Ashton if he knew of Lawyer X having intimate relationships with other officers, The Age reported.
‘Absolutely not, no,’ Inspector Ashton responded.
‘For example,’ Mr Nathwani continued.
‘Mr Argall indicates he, on occasions, had intimate relationships with Ms Gobbo. That would be news to you, would it?’
Ms Gobbo, known as Lawyer X or 3838, was a criminal barrister who represented some of the most notorious Victorian gangland figures, while acting as a police informer, between 1995 and 2009
Trevor Ashton (pictured), one of the policemen who was involved in registering Lawyer X in 1995, was cross-examined during the inquest
Inspector Ashton confirmed again allegations of an intimate relationship between the pair were ‘news’ to him.
Tim Argall, who was a constable in 1995, was one of the officers who first registered Laywer X as an informant alongside Inspector Ashton.
He is due to front the inquiry as a witness next week.
The inquest also discussed a Victoria Police review, conducted by former chief commissioner Neil Comrie, which led to the shutdown of the Source Development Unit and handlers ultimately losing their jobs, ABC reported.
Geoffrey Chettle QC argued there were several flaws in the report, which came from a lack of understanding and biases.
Mr Chettle claimed the handlers of Ms Gobbo were ‘thrown under the bus’ when the unit closed down in 2013.
Assistant Commissioner Paterson told the inquest findings of an earlier review, where handlers lost their jobs, could have been clarified
He added it was ‘totally unfair’ for the unit to be disbanded without discussing that the decision was made.
‘They are men of integrity, hardworking, and then suddenly out of a job,’ Mr Chettle said.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson agreed findings of the review could have been clarified if the men were spoken to.
‘Yes, you are correct. I’m very aware of the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice,’ Assistant Commissioner Paterson told the inquest.
‘Those principles haven’t applied to the Comrie process.’
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