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Inquiry to probe police 'failures' on LGBTQI deaths

By AAP Newswire

Jul 4, 2023

Police will be quizzed over their review process on unsolved homicides when the inquiry resumes. -AAP Image

Several high-ranking NSW police officers are will be quizzed at a gay hate crimes inquiry over lost exhibits, incomplete records and investigative failures into unsolved LGBTQI deaths in the state.

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The NSW special commission of inquiry, in its 13th block of hearings, will probe the police approach to suspected hate crimes against LGBTQI people between 1970 and 2010.

Established at the urging of a parliamentary probe following a police investigation known as Parabell, the inquiry has powers to compel witnesses to attend and to testify.

Police on Tuesday are expected to be quizzed over their review process on unsolved homicides and how they choose unsolved homicides to reinvestigate, out the 700 cases available.

Witnesses due to appear include Assistant Commissioner Rashelle Conroy from the Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command and Superintendent Roger Best from the Crime Scene Services Branch, an inquiry spokesperson said.

Witnesses scheduled to testify later in the week are Homicide Squad detectives Nigel Warren and David Laidlaw.

A lawyer for NSW police has previously told the inquiry homicide investigations were being used at the inquiry to suggest a "grand conspiracy" by police against LGBTQI people.

The latest block of hearings in the inquiry ends on Thursday.

The commissioner, Supreme Court Justice John Sackar, will deliver a final report in August.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press