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Wolf From Atlanta~
[OZ] Hancock widow denies concocting alibi to protect ......
Sun Jul 4, 2004 8:11am
63.184.201.74
Hancock widow denies concocting alibi to protect husband
By Tim Clarke
July 2, 2004
THE widow of a murdered Perth detective today denied she
concocted an alibi for her husband, who was the prime suspect in
the sniper-style shooting of a bikie gang member.
Elizabeth Hancock was giving evidence at the trial of five
members of the Gypsy Jokers, who allegedly terrorised the couple
to avenge the death of fellow gang member Billy Grierson.
The wife of former Perth Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB)
chief Don Hancock told the court their home and businesses her
husband owned in Ora Banda, 70km northwest of Kalgoorlie, were
systematically destroyed in the weeks following Mr Grierson's
death in October 2000.
During a fiery cross examination by defence barrister Colin
Lovitt, QC, Mrs Hancock rejected suggestions she fabricated
evidence her husband was at home on the night of the shooting in
order to protect his reputation.
"(Your account) is full of invention to cover up your belief
that he (Don Hancock) shot and killed Mr Grierson," Mr
Lovitt told the court, to which Mrs Hancock replied: "That's
a lie".
"It is ridiculous to suggest he had a motive to go out and
shoot one of them," she told the jury. "He would never
have put us in danger like that.
"He was a damn fine police officer – he doesn't shoot
people in the back."
Mr Lovitt asserted that Mr Hancock was in a rage over the
presence of the bikies in "his town", and had been
"spoiling for a fight".
"He got into a frenzy, and decided that he would teach them
(the bikies) a lesson," Mr Lovitt said.
Gypsy Jokers Graeme Slater, Leslie Hoddy, Richard Samuels, Robert
Stupar and Gary White have each denied either planning or
planting the bombs which devastated the Hancocks' home, the Ora
Banda Historic Inn and the nearby gold battery which they owned.
The Crown has alleged Slater masterminded the first attack –
on the pub on October 13 – before disappearing to Esperance
to create an alibi.
The court heard that Slater, along with fellow bikie Sidney
"Snot" Reid, tried and failed to firebomb the Hancock
residence in the town a fortnight later. Slater has admitted a
charge of attempted arson related to that attack.
Then on November 5, 2000 Hoddy, Samuels, Stupar and White, along
with Reid, allegedly planted bombs outside the three Ora Banda
landmarks.
The retired detective, along with his friend Lou Lewis, were
killed in a remotely detonated car bomb in Perth on September 1,
2001.
Reid admitted his part in the assassination, while Slater was
acquitted at a trial last year.
The trial continues next week.
