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Gordon Wood sues Sydney University over articles imputing he killed Caroline Byrne | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Gordon Wood is suing Sydney University over articles promoting the work of one of its professors, who it claims helped secure the high-profile murder conviction that was later overturned on appeal. | Gordon Wood is suing Sydney University over articles promoting the work of one of its professors, who it claims helped secure the high-profile murder conviction that was later overturned on appeal. |
Wood spent more than three years behind bars after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, by throwing her off a cliff at a Sydney suicide spot called the Gap in June 1995. | Wood spent more than three years behind bars after being convicted of killing his girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, by throwing her off a cliff at a Sydney suicide spot called the Gap in June 1995. |
His conviction was overturned in 2012 in a judgment that criticised the evidence of a crucial crown witness, Associate Professor Rod Cross. | His conviction was overturned in 2012 in a judgment that criticised the evidence of a crucial crown witness, Associate Professor Rod Cross. |
Related: Gordon Wood suing media for defamation | Related: Gordon Wood suing media for defamation |
In the year after Wood’s conviction in 2008, Cross published a book, Evidence for Murder – How Physics Convicted a Killer, and was conducting free lectures at the university. | In the year after Wood’s conviction in 2008, Cross published a book, Evidence for Murder – How Physics Convicted a Killer, and was conducting free lectures at the university. |
In a claim that came before the supreme court on Friday, Wood has launched proceedings against the prestigious university over two articles on its website entitled: “Physics helps convict Gordon Wood of murder” and “Cliff fall at the Gap in Sydney”. | In a claim that came before the supreme court on Friday, Wood has launched proceedings against the prestigious university over two articles on its website entitled: “Physics helps convict Gordon Wood of murder” and “Cliff fall at the Gap in Sydney”. |
Wood alleges the university articles include an imputation that he murdered Byrne. | Wood alleges the university articles include an imputation that he murdered Byrne. |
The 2009 article “Physics helps convict Gordon Wood of murder” is still available online and has not been amended to include the fact that his conviction was overturned on appeal. | The 2009 article “Physics helps convict Gordon Wood of murder” is still available online and has not been amended to include the fact that his conviction was overturned on appeal. |
The only defendant is the University of Sydney. | The only defendant is the University of Sydney. |
Related: Gordon Wood to sue NSW, three years after murder conviction overturned | Related: Gordon Wood to sue NSW, three years after murder conviction overturned |
In the 2012 judgment, the court of criminal appeal found Cross to have conducted a series of “not particularly sophisticated” experiments to establish where Byrne could have jumped or been thrown to the location where her body was said to have been found. | In the 2012 judgment, the court of criminal appeal found Cross to have conducted a series of “not particularly sophisticated” experiments to establish where Byrne could have jumped or been thrown to the location where her body was said to have been found. |
The court said that rather than “remaining impartial to the outcome and offering his independent expertise to assist the court he formed the view ... [Wood] was guilty and it was his task to assist in proving his guilt.” | The court said that rather than “remaining impartial to the outcome and offering his independent expertise to assist the court he formed the view ... [Wood] was guilty and it was his task to assist in proving his guilt.” |
Wood has also launched legal action against the state, claiming it has cost him millions, and deliberately set out to harm him. | Wood has also launched legal action against the state, claiming it has cost him millions, and deliberately set out to harm him. |
Wood is claiming damages and costs on a number of grounds in that case, including malicious prosecution and false imprisonment. | Wood is claiming damages and costs on a number of grounds in that case, including malicious prosecution and false imprisonment. |
The matter involving Sydney University will return to court at a later date. | The matter involving Sydney University will return to court at a later date. |
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