A DECISION on the future of the state’s top prosecutor will be made this month, while the Law Society has called for ‘‘absolute certainty’’ on the matter. Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin yesterday announced that the government had suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis for a further two weeks while a decision on whether he stays in the role is finalised. Ellis was suspended on full pay from the role in 2013 when criminal charges were laid against him after he caused the death of 27-year-old Launceston woman Natalia Pearn by negligent driving. Ellis was last month handed a four-month suspended jail term and prohibited from driving for two years by magistrate Chris Webster, after attempts to appeal against his guilty verdict failed. The window to further appeal on the matter finishes at midnight tonight, and Ellis’s suspension from the role of DPP expires with it. Dr Goodwin said Ellis would be suspended for two more weeks while a decision was made. ‘‘The government is taking legal advice and considering its options, and has deemed it appropriate to extend the suspension for two weeks,’’ Dr Goodwin said. ‘‘This will allow a decision to be made prior to the suspension ending on 28 January,’’ she said. Miss Pearn’s parents Kris and Alan have called for Ellis to be sacked from the position. ‘‘I understand the community concern about this matter, and I understand the concern of the Pearn family but we must act in accordance with the law,’’ Dr Goodwin said. Law Society of Tasmania president Matthew Verney said the government was in uncharted waters. ‘‘I would urge for the matter to be resolved one way or another on whether Mr Ellis stays or goes,’’ Mr Verney said. ‘‘We really need absolute certainty in the position of the DPP and we don’t have that at the moment,’’ he said. Under the DPP Act, only the Governor can remove Ellis from the role if he is ‘‘guilty of misbehaviour’’. There is no definition of the phrase, and Mr Verney said the government should act to define ‘‘misbehaviour’’. Dr Goodwin said Ellis had been informed about the suspension. She confirmed former Solicitor-General Leigh Sealey was providing advice to the government. Solicitor-General Michael O’Farrell, SC, is unable to assist the government because before taking up the position he represented Ellis.
Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis has been suspended for a further two weeks while a decision on whether he stays in the role is finalised.
A DECISION on the future of the state’s top prosecutor will be made this month, while the Law Society has called for ‘‘absolute certainty’’ on the matter.
Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin yesterday announced that the government had suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis for a further two weeks while a decision on whether he stays in the role is finalised.
Ellis was suspended on full pay from the role in 2013 when criminal charges were laid against him after he caused the death of 27-year-old Launceston woman Natalia Pearn by negligent driving.
Ellis was last month handed a four-month suspended jail term and prohibited from driving for two years by magistrate Chris Webster, after attempts to appeal against his guilty verdict failed.
The window to further appeal on the matter finishes at midnight tonight, and Ellis’s suspension from the role of DPP expires with it.
Dr Goodwin said Ellis would be suspended for two more weeks while a decision was made.
‘‘The government is taking legal advice and considering its options, and has deemed it appropriate to extend the suspension for two weeks,’’ Dr Goodwin said.
‘‘This will allow a decision to be made prior to the suspension ending on 28 January,’’ she said.
Miss Pearn’s parents Kris and Alan have called for Ellis to be sacked from the position.
‘‘I understand the community concern about this matter, and I understand the concern of the Pearn family but we must act in accordance with the law,’’ Dr Goodwin said.
Law Society of Tasmania president Matthew Verney said the government was in uncharted waters.
‘‘I would urge for the matter to be resolved one way or another on whether Mr Ellis stays or goes,’’ Mr Verney said.
‘‘We really need absolute certainty in the position of the DPP and we don’t have that at the moment,’’ he said.
Under the DPP Act, only the Governor can remove Ellis from the role if he is ‘‘guilty of misbehaviour’’.
There is no definition of the phrase, and Mr Verney said the government should act to define ‘‘misbehaviour’’.
Dr Goodwin said Ellis had been informed about the suspension.
She confirmed former Solicitor-General Leigh Sealey was providing advice to the government.
Solicitor-General Michael O’Farrell, SC, is unable to assist the government because before taking up the position he represented Ellis.
