Thursday, August 4, 2011

Court hears former top cop Mark Standen told 'many lies'

By Lisa Davies Chief Court Reporter From: The Daily Telegraph July 25, 2011 12:35PM

FORMER top cop Mark Standen had "lied without pause" in a bid to explain his criminality, giving jurors a version that was "entirely implausible", a court has heard.

Crown Prosecutor Tim Game SC has begun his closing address to the jury, who will next week begin deliberations in Standen's long-running trial.

The former NSW Crime Commission assistant director, who gave evidence in his own defence case for 16 days plus a further nine in cross-examination, is accused of conspiring to import drugs with two other men, including former informant James Kinch.

He denies three charges, and claims instead he was effectively humouring his businessman friend and alleged co-conspirator Bill Jalalaty who had a string of whacky ideas that never came to fruition.

In addressing the jury today, Mr Game said Standen had told "a series of lies - complex and interrelated lies" in trying to convince the jury he was not guilty.

"It's not a nice thing to say but the Crown case is that (Standen) lied without pause for 25 days and transparently so," Mr Game said.

"(He told) many, many, many demonstrable lies involving quite complicated ins and outs of evidence (which) can be exposed as lies."

Mr Game said the Crown submitted that Standen's evidence was "entirely implausible".

Standen had admitted in his evidence discussing with Jalalaty an "unlawful scenario" in which drugs could be imported in a shipment of rice - but he never believed his friend was serious.

Mr Game asked the jury to examine the details of Standen's version, and said they would find it untenable and unsubstantiated.

"There was no 'unlawful scenario'," he said.

"The Crown case is that Mr Standen was a persistent liar over a very substantial period of time."

Mr Game's address is expected to continue for a couple of days, before Standen's barrister Mark Ierace SC begins his closing.

Justice Bruce James is expected to sum up to the jury early next week.

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