Policewoman Debra Lee Buckskin Cop 'gave police secrets to bikies'
Article from: The Advertiser



SEAN FEWSTER, COURT REPORTER

January 14, 2008 02:00pm

A POLICEWOMAN who put her AFL footballer husband "on the straight and narrow" accessed restricted police databases and passed their contents on to motorcycle gangs, a court has heard.

Debra Lee Buckskin – former wife of Port Adelaide's Fabian Francis – was not required to appear in the District Court today. However, a hearing for her co-accused – Chad Tassone and Felice Esposito – brought to light more details about the high-profile case.

In October 2006, Buckskin was arrested – resulting in her being suspended from her position as a patrol officer at the Tea Tree Gully police station.

The trio are accused of being involved in a scheme to pass police, public service and utilities information on to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Buckskin and Francis married in 1999 and he said at the time that "she's put me on the straight and narrow and helped me a lot".

It is believed the two are now separated.

Today Tassone, 25, and Esposito, 39, faced court.

They pleaded not guilty to aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring Buckskin to abuse her public office.

Tassone also denied one count of unlawful possession.

Prosecutors alleged that, in September 2006, he was found to be in possession of "documents printed from restricted SAPOL data bases".

Carolyn Lam, prosecuting, said Buckskin had already pleaded not guilty to four counts of abuse of public office.

She said a trial date had been set for June.

Judge Marie Shaw remanded Tassone and Esposito on continuing bail to a directions hearing next month.

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