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Monday, September 17, 2012

TWO POLICEMEN ALL CLEAR AFTER A DEADLY PURSUIT OF A TEENAGER SHANE BENNETT-DIFFERENT RULES FOR VICTORIA POLICE?

Shane Bennett
Shane Bennett and the car involved in the fatal chase. Source: Herald Sun
TWO police officers found by a coroner to have lied about how fast they drove during a deadly pursuit of a teenager won't face charges.
Coroner Peter White referred his findings about Senior Constables Michael Bednarczyk and Cameron Orr to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
But the Herald Sun can reveal the Office of Public Prosecutions will not pursue charges against the duo over the accident in which Shane Bennett, 19, died.
Mr Bennett died in hospital the day after his unregistered car crashed into another car in Seaford on March 16, 2008.
The driver of the other car was also seriously injured.
In a scathing finding back in March, Mr White said the police pair deliberately "turned a blind eye" to their speed and said the evidence they gave was not truthful.
Sen-Constable Orr had been licensed by the force to drive only as fast as 150km/h, and both told superiors their speed never went above that.
But investigators turned to GPS tracking technology to confirm their speed.


Melbourne car chase
Mr White found that Mr Bennett had been chased at up to 177km/h.

Police Association secretary Senior Sergeant Greg Davies said: "The coroner has made his recommendation, and that view has not matched that of the DPP."
He said he had never met a police officer who wanted to get involved in high-speed pursuits "but they do have a sworn duty to apprehend offenders.
"Imagine the fingers that would be pointed at police if the offender was not apprehended and went on to kill an innocent civilian," he said.
Mr Bennett's mother, Lorraine, said the family was "devastated" the two officers would not face court.
"I think the whole situation is wrong. (They) are told to uphold the law ... but they have shown they can do whatever they want and not be held accountable," she told the Herald Sun.
"For me, it shows they can lie in court and get away with it. We knew that police were lying and we wanted the lies brought out in the open and them held accountable, and that hasn't happened.
"But at least they were shown for what they really were," Mrs Bennett said.
She was still considering possible legal action.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said consultations were continuing on a coronial recommendation that an independent agent oversee the internal investigation of any police officer involved in a death.
"Consultations with relevant bodies are still continuing," a spokesman for the Department of Justice said.
- with Padraic Murphy

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