Eastman case: Chief Justice disqualifies herself from bail application hearing
The ACT Chief Justice has disqualified herself from a bail hearing for David Eastman, after it was revealed she has a connection to a person Eastman had been banned from contacting.
Eastman has been released on strict bail conditions and his lawyers are now arguing over the extent of the conditions.
One condition included a list of people Eastman was banned from approaching.
Chief Justice Helen Murrell told the court she has a connection with one of the people on the list, and stood herself down from the hearing.
The matter will return to court next week.
Eastman was released from prison last month after the Supreme Court quashed his conviction for the murder of Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Colin Winchester in 1989.
In May an inquiry found Eastman had not received a fair trial, primarily because of flaws in the forensic case, and recommended his murder conviction be quashed.
He served more than 19 years in prison after his conviction in 1995.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is opposing the removal of the bail conditions and has put forward a draft of several new conditions.
The court will also hear whether Eastman should be allowed to hold a passport.
