Compensation sought for wrongful jailing

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.

From GLW issue 118