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Warneke cops stood aside

Five WA police officers have been stood aside from their duties following a review of the bungled Joshua Warneke murder investigation.

A further four officers involved in the inquiry are being considered for 'managerial action'.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan took action against the officers on Friday, almost a year after ordering an internal review into the conduct of officers involved in the Warneke case.

Mr Warneke, 21, was killed in an unprovoked attack while walking home from a night out in Broome with friends in February 2010.

His attacker, Gene Gibson, was arrested two years later and charged with murder.

He was eventually sentenced to just 7 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter when the murder charge was downgraded following a string of police bungles.

A Supreme Court judge found police had repeatedly breached the law during interviews with Gibson.

Just weeks before Gibson was due to face trial, Justice Stephen Hall threw out interviews in which Gibson allegedly admitted running over Mr Warneke and hitting him with a rock.

Artist's sketch of Gene Gibson, who was sentenced to 71/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Justice Hall found the officers involved had seriously breached the Criminal Investigation Act, casting doubt on the reliability of evidence.

The court criticism led the Commissioner to order an internal review of the conduct of the officers involved in the investigation.

The inquiry, ordered in July last year, was overseen by the Corruption and Crime Commission.

A spokeswoman for Mr O'Callaghan today confirmed that five officers had been stood aside from their current roles, although they would remain on duty.

"It remains a matter for the Police Commissioner to consider what further action will follow," the spokeswoman said.

She said WA Police would not name the officers involved at this stage of the internal process.