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Qld govt calls for patience on Baden-Clay

Queensland's attorney-general has told the director of public prosecutions not to rush consideration of the Baden-Clay case.

A memorial to Allison Baden-Clay
Over 50,000 people have signed a petition against the downgrading Gerard Baden-Clay's conviction. (AAP)

Queensland's government doesn't want to rush legal advice on appealing against the downgrading of Gerard Baden-Clay's murder conviction.

Queensland's Chief Justice Catherine Holmes and two other Court of Appeal judges on Tuesday set aside last year's trial verdict that Baden-Clay murdered his wife Allison nearly four years ago, changing it to manslaughter.

The state has 28 days to seek legal advice about whether to lodge a special leave application with the High Court to consider an appeal.

Acting Attorney-General Cameron Dick says Director of Public Prosecutions Michael Byrne needs time consider all available legal advice to ensure any application is as strong as possible.

"This is a complex case involving complex legal issues as well as factual issues," Mr Dick said.

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"We need to give him time to properly consider this. I've asked the DPP not to do a rushed job, but the right job."

However, Mr Dick sympathised with those concerned about the process.

"Three young children now live their lives without their mother and on all of the legal determinations their mother's life was taken unlawfully by their father," he said.

"So I understand the deep community concern."

A petition calling for Mr Dick to appeal the manslaughter verdict has gathered more than 56,000 signatures.

The woman who launched the change.org petition, Nicole Morris, said it was important decision-makers were made aware of the injustice many Australians felt about the case.

She hopes the petition will help Mr Dick convey that anger when going about appealing the decision.

"It's about when he goes into that room and he's talking to the judges and the lawyers and the politicians and all of the people who are making those decisions," the Australian Missing Persons Register founder told the Nine Network.

Baden-Clay had in August challenged last year's conviction for murdering his wife on a number of grounds, including that the jury's verdict was unreasonable.

Legal experts say the appeal court's shock decision means Baden-Clay could be out of jail within a few years.


2 min read

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Updated

Source: AAP



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