'He was a sad, insipid little boy': Martin Bryant’s lawyer accused of betrayal after tell-all interview
Almost 20 years after the horrifying Port Arthur massacre, Martin Bryant’s lawyer has been accused of betraying his client.
John Avery represented Bryant after the shooting that claimed the lives of 35 innocent people in April, 1996.
The Seven Network’s Sunday Night special featured never-before seen footage of Bryant’s chilling interviews with police and revealed the careless attitude of the man who found humour in the horrific murders.
Mr Avery also revealed what he really thought about the mass murderer.
During the police interviews, the gunman was exposed as a giggling, grinning fool.
"Martin, it's not funny," police officers can be heard telling the then 28-year-old man as he sat handcuffed at a desk.
Bryant initially denied the crime, laughing at photos of the victims as one of the officers showed him individual photos of the dead bodies.
"Now are you convinced now there are 35 people dead?" an officer asks.
"Yep,” replies a smiling Bryant.
Mr Avery described his client as a “sad, insipid little boy” and admits playing on his lack of intelligence to have him plead guilty.
"I said, mate, you're going to be made to look stupid,” he told Sunday Night.
It worked, but now Avery's been slammed for betraying his client's trust.
Barrister Greg Barnes said Bryant still has rights, even from behind bars.
"Your rights in relation to what you've told your lawyer, and confidentiality, don't change simply because you've been convicted,” Mr Barnes told 7 News.
The release of the police interview is also under fire for fear it could inspire copycats.
Roger Henning from Homeland Security Asia Pacific said Australia is still awash with weapons.
"..probably more guns on the street of Australia now, than there were before Port Arthur,” Mr Henning said during a 2UE interview.
Sunday Night's Mike Willesee says the story needed to be told.
"I think we are closer to the truth. He was mentally disturbed,” he said on Sunrise.
In interview footage Bryant mocked police officers saying:
"See, if people didn't do these unfortunate things, you guys wouldn't have a job!"
Bryant, now 48, is serving 35 life sentences in Tasmania's Risdon Prison.
He will never be released.
News break – March 7
