Push for Rayney review details
Police have been urged to release details of their highly secretive review of the Corryn Rayney murder inquiry, with the Opposition concerned the lack of public scrutiny could result in a whitewash.
A small team of officers began reviewing the controversial case late last year. But police have repeatedly refused to confirm any details, including whether a review had begun.
Shadow police minister Michelle Roberts said given the criticism of the original police investigation by trial judge Justice Brian Martin, the public had a right to know things were being done properly this time around.
She said the inquiry's terms of reference should be released, along with details of who was running it, whether help from independent experts had been sought and if alternative suspects would be closely examined.
"It is not enough for WA Police to just put the shutters up and say 'trust us' because the information that came out through the trial process . . . undermined that confidence," Mrs Roberts said.
"The public need to know that when a murder investigation is undertaken by WA Police that they are following best practice, that they have appropriate resources at their disposal and that corners aren't being cut or suspects overlooked."
Mrs Rayney was killed on August 8, 2007, and her body was found buried in Kings Park a week later.
Her husband Lloyd Rayney was found not guilty of her murder and is now suing police for defamation for describing him as their "prime and only suspect".
Among the many questions police have refused to answer is whether any officers who were involved in the original inquiry are working on the review.
The unit that is understood to be handling the case is run by Supt Paul Coombes, who was the head of the major crime squad in 2010 when Mr Rayney was charged. But it is not known if Supt Coombes is playing an active role in the new investigation.
Mrs Roberts said she believed the best outcome was for the Government to step in and order a truly independent inquiry to be run by someone impartial, such as the State Coroner.
Police Minister Liza Harvey dismissed that suggestion and accused the Opposition of trying to score "cheap" political points.
