Judge-Prosecutor Feud Stalls Child Abuse Trial

0:00From the streets of Sydney to the world, this is Sydney News Today. A class between New South Wales top prosecutor Sally Dowling and District Court Judge Penelope Was has stalled a key child sexual abuse trial and three other criminal cases. Dowling asks Was to step aside, arguing her public criticism of the prosecution office in a Parliament's resubmission creates an appearance of bias. The trial involves alleged crimes from the 1950s against elderly complainants by an accused with serious health problems. The feud stems from Was's 68-page submission last November, where she accused Dowling's office of trying to undermine her through media, leaks and weed cases. This led to Dowling's recusal push in December, right as the judge alone trial was wrapping up after 14 days. Victims and the accused face huge setbacks from any restart. The barrister noted elderly complainants, some battling cancer, with suffer through a retrial. Was highlighted the four-year weight already endured, warning a new judge would delay

1:01justice further. Last week, the New South Wales Court of Appeal ruled Parliamentary Privilege does not block Dowling's team from using the submission in court. The judge is called Was's move highly unusual, but stay neutral on its merits. Was has ordered amended recusal applications by March 9th, with the directions hearing on March 20th. No final hearing day yet, but other cases before her remain in limbo as the Parliamentary inquiry into related issues drags into May. The Daily News Now is powered by our sponsor. A pillow that sounds as good as it feels, built for listening and bed, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.