Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington says notorious childcare paedophile will soon face charges in NSW
Queensland’s attorney general has said final steps to extradite notorious childcare pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith to face charges in NSW after losing his appeal against his life sentence last week are now in the hands of the courts.
The conclusion of this matter, which relates to long-running crimes against 69 girls, will allow Griffith to take legal action in NSW, where he is accused of sexual offenses against more than 20 children.
Speaking at an event organized by the Queensland Media Club to outline her government’s response to a wider review of failings in the case and the system, Attorney General Deb Frecklington said Griffith would now be in NSW.
Describing him as a “low job”, he said: “Griffith has now lost his appeal and will end up in NSW facing charges there.”
When asked for more details about the arrangements, Frecklington said any transfer would still need to be signed off by the court, but the relevant governments were doing everything necessary to make it happen.
“Federal Prosecutor General [Michelle Rowland, the NSW Attorney-General [Michael Daley]”And I did my best to move him,” he said.
Asked how soon any transfer could take place, Frecklington only said it would happen “soon” and stressed that the final decision was ultimately up to the courts.
Generally, prisoners are not transferred until they have served their full sentences and ongoing legal matters are concluded.
Under Queensland law, such transfer orders can be made by a magistrate following a hearing attended by the prisoner’s legal representatives and the attorney general.
A magistrate may refuse to issue such an order if it is considered not in the interests of justice or harsh, or if the charges facing the other jurisdiction are frivolous in nature.
Griffith’s family members Alleged victims in NSWand this province longest serving child abuse detectiveHe pressed for the man to be extradited as soon as possible to avoid delay in justice.
Frecklington had previously told Daley he had no objection to Griffith being transferred once the appeal process was completed.
Griffith’s sentence came after he pleaded guilty to 307 state and federal charges involving 69 girls, including civil crimes such as rape, sexual abuse, indecent treatment and child abuse.
He faces charges in NSW relating to 180 offenses committed while he was working at a Sydney nursery.
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Matt Dennien is a reporter for the Brisbane Times covering state politics, parliament and the public sector. He previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
