Media Room: Media Releases

Closed session: Board of Inquiry into the death of Private Jake Kovco

The Board of Inquiry into the death of Private Jake Kovco was held in closed session this afternoon, 24 July 2006.  During this afternoon’s proceedings, an application was made by Counsel Representing Shelley Kovco and he requested the application be heard in open session.  This was granted.

Once the application was made and considered by the Board, the inquiry returned to a closed session.

Defence is cognisant of the need for transparency in these circumstances, where applicable.  To this end, the Board has agreed to release a summary of the application made during this afternoon’s brief open session:

·        LTCOL Berkley, Counsel Representing Shelley Kovco, requested Soldiers 17 and 19 be returned to Australia in order to provide face-to-face witness testimony.

·        LTCOL Holles, Counsel Representing PTE Kovco’s parents, and COL Young, Counsel Representing PTE Kovco’s interests, supported this application.

·        Senior Counsel Assisting, COL Griffin, provided advice to the Board President that this application would afford the NSW Police an early opportunity for DNA testing of the two soldiers, would have a limited operational effect and would likely expedite the proceedings and therefore supported the application.

·        The President of the Board has agreed to the application and has requested the immediate return of the soldiers to Australia.

At this stage Defence is unable to comment further as to when the soldiers will return to Australia or when the DNA testing will be complete.

A transcript of this afternoon’s hearing will be available within 24-48hours at www.defence.gov.au/media/index.cfm .

Media contact:

Defence Media Liaison          (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

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