Compensation sought for wrongful jailing
By Bill Mason
BRISBANE - Kelvin Condren, who was jailed for seven years for murder,
despite confessions by another man that he committed the crime, is claiming
more than $1 million in compensation and legal expenses from the state
government.
Condren, an Aboriginal man from Townsville, has issued the claim in
compensation for the ``incalculable loss'' he suffered from ``seven years of
wrongful imprisonment''.
Solicitor Terry O'Gorman, acting for Condren, said that the compensation
would be held in trust by a group of Aboriginal advisers.
``After seven years in jail for a crime he didn't commit, he's finding it
very hard to reintegrate into his community'', O'Gorman said.
O'Gorman has called on the state government to set up a miscarriage of
justice tribunal to prevent similar tragedies.