Qld: Court dismisses armed robber's 'corruption' claim

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2005
Qld: Court dismisses armed robber's 'corruption' claim

By Johanna Leggatt

BRISBANE, Dec 1 AAP - An armed robber's appeal against his conviction on the grounds
that the entire legal system is corrupt, has been unanimously dismissed.

Brisbane man Wayne John Morrell, 44, representing himself, told the Queensland Court
of Appeal today that justice was reserved for paedophiles and politicians.

He said men like him were not given a chance.

In March this year, Morrell was convicted by a Queensland District Court jury of the
1995 armed robbery at the Salisbury Hotel, South Brisbane, in which $19,315 was taken.

The police were unable to bring Morrell to trial until DNA evidence testing in 2003
linked a balaclava from the robbery with Morrell's DNA.

He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Morrell appealed the conviction.

But in repeated court appearances, the self-represented armed robber has been unable
to formulate the basis of his appeal.

Today, the Court of Appeal refused to grant him another adjournment, insisting he tell
them his basis for appeal.

To which Morrell offered: "There's no justice; if this was a politician or a paedophile
then they would get off.

"This whole system is a farce, it's a mockery and corrupt."

Mr Morrell also argued that the judge did not give proper directions to the jury and
he cast doubts over the police DNA evidence.

"At first they couldn't find any DNA evidence and now all of a sudden there is DNA
there," he said.

When the court suggested DNA testing has become more sophisticated in recent times,
Morrell argued: "well the DNA is either on it or it isn't."

The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the appeal, claiming a vague allegation of
corruption is not sufficient grounds for quashing a conviction.

They also found no fault with the trial judge's directions to the jury.

AAP jtl/ch/it/sd

KEYWORD: MORRELL

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