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Police in Stephen Milne case accused over PR campaign Police in Stephen Milne case accused of running PR campaign
(about 2 hours later)
The legal team defending the former St Kilda footballer Stephen Milne over rape allegations has accused police of running a PR campaign over the force's early handling of the case.The legal team defending the former St Kilda footballer Stephen Milne over rape allegations has accused police of running a PR campaign over the force's early handling of the case.
The accusation came after Milne's defence team subpoenaed Victoria Police for documents on the police handling of the case early on.The accusation came after Milne's defence team subpoenaed Victoria Police for documents on the police handling of the case early on.
The case dates back to 2004 but charges were only laid this year after a police review found the initial investigation was inadequate.The case dates back to 2004 but charges were only laid this year after a police review found the initial investigation was inadequate.
Morgan McLay, for chief commissioner Ken Lay, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday that some of the police material was confidential and public interest immunity prevented its release.Morgan McLay, for chief commissioner Ken Lay, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday that some of the police material was confidential and public interest immunity prevented its release.
The first investigators were still being reviewed over their conduct in the handling of the case, he said.The first investigators were still being reviewed over their conduct in the handling of the case, he said.
Mr McLay asked for more time to go through the information the defence lawyers have requested.Mr McLay asked for more time to go through the information the defence lawyers have requested.
But Milne's defence barrister Phil Dunn QC said Mr Lay and assistant commissioner Steve Fontana had gone on radio to conduct a media blitz after Milne was charged to make police appear in a better light, but police were now restricting information about the case.But Milne's defence barrister Phil Dunn QC said Mr Lay and assistant commissioner Steve Fontana had gone on radio to conduct a media blitz after Milne was charged to make police appear in a better light, but police were now restricting information about the case.
"The police say we can't tell you, the defence, what's going on, we won't tell you who's rotten in the barrel. We think that is outrageous," he said. "It sounds a bit hollow to us to come along and say we need a bit more time.""The police say we can't tell you, the defence, what's going on, we won't tell you who's rotten in the barrel. We think that is outrageous," he said. "It sounds a bit hollow to us to come along and say we need a bit more time."
Mr Dunn said the material was important because the officers under investigation for the initial handling of the case would be witnesses in the case.
Magistrate Peter Reardon gave police more time to go through the material, with the matter to return to court on 21 October.		Mr Dunn said the material was important because the officers under investigation for the initial handling of the case would be witnesses in the case.
Magistrate Peter Reardon gave police more time to go through the material, with the matter to return to court on 21 October.
He also ordered that copies of a never-aired interview the complainant did in 2004 with Fairfax Radio, shortly after the alleged rape, be distributed to the defence and prosecution, after the woman gave her consent.He also ordered that copies of a never-aired interview the complainant did in 2004 with Fairfax Radio, shortly after the alleged rape, be distributed to the defence and prosecution, after the woman gave her consent.
Milne, 33, is charged with four counts of rape for allegedly raping a woman at a Highett home, in Melbourne's south-east, on 15 March 2004, two days after St Kilda won the AFL pre-season grand final.Milne, 33, is charged with four counts of rape for allegedly raping a woman at a Highett home, in Melbourne's south-east, on 15 March 2004, two days after St Kilda won the AFL pre-season grand final.
He retired from the AFL when St Kilda's season ended at the start of this month.He retired from the AFL when St Kilda's season ended at the start of this month.
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