Quigley calls for Rayney coronial inquest
A coronial inquest should be held into the unsolved murder of barrister Lloyd Rayney’s wife, shadow attorney-general John Quigley said this morning.
Calling on the State Government to fund a senior counsel to assist an inquiry into Corryn Rayney’s killing, Mr Quigley said an open hearing would address “public disquiet” about the case.
Mr Rayney, who was acquitted nearly two years ago of wilfully murdering his wife, recently spoke out about his ordeal and called for a cold case review of her murder.
Mrs Rayney vanished after attending a boot scooting class in Bentley on August 7, 2007. Her body was discovered nine days later in a bush grave in Kings Park.
Six weeks after Mrs Rayney’s death, police identified her husband as their “prime” and “only” suspect in their investigation and he was charged three years later.
Shadow attorney-general John Quigley says a public hearing into the death of Corryn Rayney would address 'public disquiet'. File picture: The West Australian
The former prosecutor, who was acquitted of the murder after a 12-week, judge alone trial, told a special Channel 7 presentation screened late last month that he believed the case could still be solved and there should be a cold case review which did not involve any of the officers involved in the original investigation.
After Mr Rayney spoke out, Attorney-General Michael Mischin said he would consider any request relating to the case on its merits.
BARNETT COOL ON RAYNEY INVESTIGATION
But Mr Quigley said a cold case review was not a matter for the Government and was an operational issue which was within the exclusive purview of the Commissioner of Police.
He said an open coronial inquest would be able to examine the police investigation in the murder case. It would also allow Mr Rayney and people of interest in the case to be called to give evidence.
“There is public disquiet about the whole issue,” Mr Quigley said.
“It is important that public confidence be maintained in the system and a coronial inquest will go a long way to ensuring that public confidence is retained.”
Lloyd Rayney. File picture: The West Australian
