Inquiry unlikely after Rayney case bungle

2 Nov 2012, 7:21 pm   -   Source: AAP
Mr Rayney was on Thursday acquitted of killing his wife in 2007. (AAP)

Mr Rayney was on Thursday acquitted of killing his wife in 2007. (AAP)

High-profile Perth barrister Jonathan Davies says the Rayney case is yet another example of mistakes being made by police.

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An inquiry or even a royal commission into the way West Australian police handle high-profile murders should be conducted, a top Perth barrister says.

Jonathan Davies, who has helped expose injustices in WA's legal system including the infamous John Button and Darryl Beamish cases, said on Friday the Rayney case was yet another example of mistakes being made by police.

But he said it was unlikely an inquiry into the Rayney case would be held.

Lloyd Rayney was acquitted on Thursday of killing his wife Corryn in 2007, ending his five-year ordeal to prove his innocence and renewing speculation about who committed the murder.

The conduct of police investigating the case was criticised by presiding judge Justice Brian Martin, who said their behaviour "ranged from inappropriate to reprehensible", although he believed there was nothing to suggest the probe was not thorough.

Aside from a substantial legal bill, Mr Rayney is now left with an incomplete defamation case related to comments by Senior Sergeant Jack Lee, head of the major crime squad, who told journalists shortly after Ms Rayney's death that her estranged husband was the "prime" and "only" suspect.

Mr Davies said the police had fixated on Mr Rayney and other lines of inquiry might have emerged if they had taken a broader approach.

However, he acknowledged police faced public pressure to come up with a suspect in murder investigations.

While Justice Martin had found WA police "very wanting in approach" to the investigation, they didn't make a habit of it or have a poor philosophy, Mr Davies said.

But there had been a few ham-fisted efforts, including the Andrew Mallard and Mickelberg cases, he said.

"Heaven knows the cops have a complicated and overwhelming task, but sometimes I think we put such pressure on them, that we force them down paths of error," Mr Davies told AAP.

"We need to find out what's going wrong with these cases and we need to learn by our mistakes.

"Mistakes have been made and police seem to shrug their shoulders and get on with it."

However, it was unlikely an inquiry or royal commission would be conducted, he said.

"I think the government of the day closes ranks.

"Law and order is a football that's used whenever it suits the government of the day, trying to drum up electoral support and be seen to be doing something.

"But when it comes to actually addressing the core issues, the core difficulties that face criminal justice and police services, they've shown themselves to be reluctant to respond."

WA Premier Colin Barnett said an inquiry was not needed.

"We don't need an inquiry but I'm sure the police commissioner will look at that. The police minister will also look at that and the attorney-general," Mr Barnett told reporters.

"Did the police fail in their role in the prosecution?

"I'm not really confident to comment on that but obviously there will be some review."

Also on Friday, Robin Napper, a forensic expert who worked on Mr Rayney's defence team, called for an independent investigation into Ms Rayney's murder.

"We are almost desperate to get an independent team in from outside the state, take all the information. This can be solved," Mr Napper told ABC radio.

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