謀殺案被告的保釋

早兩日趁裝修未動工叫朋友來吃飯，東拉西扯，天南地北，喧喧鬧鬧，十分嘈吵的過了一夜，因為這班朋友見識廣博，話題又專又闊，七嘴八舌，各抒己見。今天開始裝修，在真正嘈吵聲中渡過，明天請早。晚飯時討論的其中一個課題是Epping Murder，有朋友提出，還未定罪，為何可以扣押這麽久：下面就是新南威爾斯州的Bail Act 2013第17條所列出的保釋準則：

17 Requirement to consider unacceptable risk

(1) A bail authority must, before making a bail decision, consider whether there are any unacceptable risks.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, an 
"unacceptable risk" is an unacceptable risk that anaccused person, if released from custody, will:

(a) fail to appear at any proceedings for the offence, or

(b) commit a serious offence, or

(c) endanger the safety of victims, individuals or the community, or

(d) interfere with witnesses or evidence.

(3) A bail authority is to consider the following matters, and only the following matters, in deciding whether there is anunacceptable risk:

(a) the accused person’s background, including criminal history, circumstances and community ties,

(b) the nature and seriousness of the offence,

(c) the strength of the prosecution case,

(d) whether the accused person has a history of violence,

(e) whether the accused person has previously committed a serious offence while on bail,

(f) whether the accused person has a pattern of non-compliance with bail acknowledgments, bail conditions, apprehended violence orders, parole orders or good behaviour bonds,

(g) the length of time the accused person is likely to spend in custody if bail is refused,

(h) the likelihood of a custodial sentence being imposed if the accused person is convicted of theoffence,

(i) if the accused person has been convicted of theoffence and proceedings on an appeal against conviction or sentence are pending before a court, whether the appeal has a reasonably arguable prospect of success,

(j) any special vulnerability or needs the accused person has including because of youth, being an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or having a cognitive or mental health impairment,

(k) the need for the accused person to be free to prepare for their appearance in court or to obtain legal advice,

(l) the need for the accused person to be free for any other lawful reason.

(4) The following matters (to the extent relevant) are to be considered in deciding whether an offence is a seriousoffence (or the seriousness of an offence), but do not limit the matters that can be considered:

(a) whether the offence is of a sexual or violent nature or involves the possession or use of an offensive weapon or instrument within the meaning of theCrimes Act 1900 ,

(b) the likely effect of the offence on any victim and on the community generally,

(c) the number of offences likely to be committed or for which the person has been granted bail or released on parole.

(5) If the person is not in custody, the question of whether there are any unacceptable risks is to be decided as if the person were in custody and could be released as a result of the bail decision.

以Epping謀殺案而言，兇殘手法奪去5條人命 ，當然是極嚴重的案件，按照上面所列的法例，不予被告保釋可考慮

(2)(a)可能棄保潛逃，
(3)(a)個人背景，社區連繄少，
(3)(b)控罪嚴重及
(3)(h)一經定罪將面臨長時間的刑期。

以本案而言，也有可讓被告保釋的理由，譬如證據薄弱。在聽畢初級偵訊把被告交付高院審理時，聽審的裁判官曾讓被告保釋，後來控方上訴，才把被告覊留待審，從此可見，證據根本不强。當然，發展至今控方另有新證據，那似乎是控方的皇牌，就是控方獲得與被告一起囚禁的犯人的指證，並秘密錄了對話，指稱被告向同囚承認在兩蚊店買了鎚仔做兇器及棄置兇器的方法。錄了音自然比起口同鼻抝強，不過，我也可想像辯方怎樣去拆解。在現階段的講法，只不過是控方開審時的陳述，到傳召證人時，這證人的證供是否獲陪審團接納，還有待測試。這種告密者，自己的誠信極有問題，也因告密而獲大幅減刑，盤問他是十分好玩的事。這種二五仔，英文稱為snitch。

Epping案的陪審員，有權因為案情核突而要求免役，因為3個成年死者的頭部給類似鎚仔硬物打至血肉模糊，看這種剖屍的照片，不是每一個人都挨得住的。抽到我我也不能做，因為曾經跟被告打過羽毛球，是申請免役的理由，雖然我不算認識他。

在香港，裁判官無權給謀殺案的被告保釋，只有高院法官才有權。在印象中也想不起有給任何獲保釋的先例，就算定了罪上訴得直而重審的，也會扣押起來候審。