Reprehensible conduct: The scandalous case of Lawyer X and the underbelly murder investigations
“This is probably the single biggest scandal to hit the Australian justice system in history.” Editor
Informer 3838 was the secret police weapon in the fight to end Melbourne’s murderous gangland wars. For years the public only knew of her as Lawyer X until she was unmasked as the high-profile barrister, Nicola Gobbo.
“Who would ever have thought a formidable defence barrister is going to turn rogue and start using her clients’ information [and] give it to the police? You’d never think that in a month of Sundays.” Retired Detective Senior Sergeant
Her clients were a who’s who of the “underbelly” world, including infamous gangsters like Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel. As the body count in the deadly criminal war climbed, she worked hard and partied hard, playing a dangerous double game.
“The fact that it went for so long and went undetected for so long, and that she was capable of putting on the Jekyll and Hyde face throughout this on a daily basis is quite extraordinary.” Solicitor
The revelations she had double crossed her clients rocked the legal system and the people she represented when her role as an informer was exposed.
“She was effectively dealing up her clients on a platter to the prosecuting authorities when they had every expectation that she would be looking after them. She simply betrayed them.” Former prosecutor
Gobbo’s actions and the decision by the police hierarchy to approve them have now placed Victoria Police at the centre of a breathtaking scandal that is calling into question notable criminal convictions and the conduct of some of the state’s most senior police.
“When she walked in the door and said “I want to be an informer” they should’ve turned around and said “Not possible, thanks very much.” Solicitor
On Monday Four Corners details how this story of cops, criminals, murder and betrayal has unravelled and why it’s now the biggest crisis ever faced by an Australian justice system.
“Those who knew and sanctioned what was happening were guilty of terrible breaches of duty and extraordinarily unethical behaviour.” Former prosecutor
In this gripping program, prominent legal figures and many of those who were on the frontline of the gangland war speak out about how the actions of Victoria Police have undermined the justice system.
“Whilst you might have senior police officers who said, “Oh, yes, I wasn’t really comfortable about it,” they still allowed people to be convicted with tainted evidence and spend years in prison and did nothing.” Solicitor
Reviews into dozens of convictions are now underway and in what could be a bitter irony, the very methods used to put so many criminals behind bars may be the trigger for their release.
“Make no mistake there was …some really bad men who could get out of jail because of the actions of Victoria police and Nicola Gobbo.” Editor
‘”Reprehensible conduct”, reported by Michael Brissenden, goes to air on Monday 21st October at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 22nd October at 1.00pm and Wednesday 23rd at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABCNEWS channelon Saturday at 8.10pm AEST,ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners
FOUR CORNERS: Monday 21 October 2019 at 8:30pm on ABC
