Amanda Banks
State prosecutors have dropped a case against a former policeman after an appeal court quashed his conviction for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Robert David Critchley’s appeal against his conviction was upheld unanimously by three Court of Appeal judges in a decision that was delivered in October.
The appeal court did not publish its decision until this week.
Mr Critchley, who pleaded not guilty to the charge and was convicted after a District Court jury trial in February last year, served more than seven months of his 18-month jail term before being released after his appeal.
During the trial, it was alleged he tried to “tip-off ” a suspected white supremacist that he was under covert surveillance.
Mr Critchley rejected suggestions he was sympathetic to nationalist extremist groups and denied speaking to anybody during two calls from public telephone boxes.
The Court of Appeal ordered Mr Critchley to face a retrial, but the charge against him was formally discontinued on November 2.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the case was not being pursued because of evidentiary problems.