Controversial online database CrimeNet has today agreed to cooperate with legal authorities, despite the operator's claim the site did not prejudice a Victorian murder retrial that was aborted last week. The West Australian-based Web site sells information on Australian criminals.
In a letter written to the Victorian Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Attorneys General today, CrimeNet owner Ken Shultz said that information relating to the case involved, while available on the site, had not been accessed during the proceedings.
The Victorian DPP has threatened Shultz with contempt of court charges if the site continues to interfere with court proceedings. In a letter to Shultz, DPP Geoffrey Flatman QC said site was directly responsible for the jury's discharge.
However, "we understand no evidence was put forward to support this proposition and the judge did not ascertain if any jury members had accessed our Web site," Shultz claims.
Shultz said audit reports of CrimeNet during the trial do not show that records relating to the case were accessed. He added that at the time of the trial, the University of NSW site austlii.com.au had reports of the case.
The Attorneys General also sent a letter calling for the site to be shut down pending a decision at a July Commonwealth Attorneys General Standing Committee meeting where the site's future will be decided.
Pre-empting the meeting and the threat of closure, Shultz has responded to both letters offering his "full cooperation" and has amended records.
Shultz told ZDNet Australia yesterday that he is preparing the Web site for immediate sale overseas pending the decision from the government.
