NSW: Gordon Wood trial cage viewing of The Gap cancelled

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2008
NSW: Gordon Wood trial cage viewing of The Gap cancelled

Eds: reissuing to include Justice Barr's first name Graham



SYDNEY, April 15 AAP - The judge presiding over Gordon Wood's murder trial has cancelled
a `test' viewing of the Sydney cliff where his model girlfriend died.

During a brief mention of the trial in the NSW Supreme Court today, the judge cancelled
Friday's site viewing involving a cage being lowered over The Gap, a notorious suicide
spot at Watsons Bay in Sydney's east.

Crown prosecutor, Mark Tedeschi, QC, had arranged for the "practice view", during which
Justice Graham Barr and the crown and defence legal teams were to make use of the cage.

Wood, who was chauffeur to the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin, is accused of throwing
Caroline Byrne over The Gap.

His trial is set down for July.

Mr Tedeschi previously told the judge it was important for the jury to see the location
where Ms Byrne's body was found in June 1995.

Mr Tedeschi said everything was in place for Friday's viewing, but the scaffolding
work needed to begin today.

But Justice Barr said: "I am calling it off".

He added that if the crown wanted to proceed, it should put in a written proposition
stating exactly why it was necessary for the jury to have the viewing.

The proposal could canvass other means to view the site, he said.

Meanwhile, Wood's lawyer, Michael Bowe, today told the court that late yesterday he
was informed his client would be granted some Legal Aid funding.

This was contrary to an earlier decision on the matter and it was not yet known if
Winston Terracini SC could continue to act for Wood, he said.

Justice Barr said he regarded the matter as one "in which Mr Wood should be represented
by experienced trial counsel".

No future mention date has been set.

AAP mss/hn/ldj/cdh

KEYWORD: WOOD REISSUING

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.