Fed: Feds to help fund Norfolk murder trial

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2006
Fed: Feds to help fund Norfolk murder trial

By Peter Veness

CANBERRA, Aug 1 AAP - The federal government will provide funding to ensure the committal
hearing of a man accused of murdering Sydney woman Janelle Patton on Norfolk Island goes
ahead.

Glenn McNeill is accused of killing 29-year-old Ms Patton on Easter Sunday, 2002.

It was the first murder on the tiny Pacific island in 150 years.

Territories Minister Jim Lloyd today announced the commonwealth would provide $70,000
to the Norfolk Island government for the committal hearing next week and possible trial.

"Without Australian government financial support, the Janelle Patton murder trial may
not have gone ahead due to a lack of financial resources on (the) island," Mr Lloyd said
in a statement.

Norfolk Chief Minister David Buffett wrote to Mr Lloyd in early June seeking financial
assistance for the case, Norfolk secretary to government Peter Maywald told AAP.

Mr Maywald said the cost of a full trial could reach $600,000 and possibly beyond.

"The Norfolk Island government is grateful for the commonwealth's assistance," Mr Maywald said.

Much of the $70,000 will be spent on video conferencing equipment.

"We are certainly hoping some of the evidence can be taken by video conference."

A New Zealand resident, McNeill is being held in a Sydney jail at Norfolk's expense.

Ms Patton had been working on the island for two-and-a-half years. Police believe she
was abducted during a walk to a lookout.

Her battered and stabbed body, covered in a sheet of plastic, was found later that
day in a picturesque waterfall reserve.

AAP pv/sb/pe/nf

KEYWORD: NORFOLK

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