Criminal lawyer on hit-and-run charge
The Advertiser Edition 1 – State Tue 02 DEC 2003
By SIMONNE REID and STUART MARTIN

ONE of Adelaide’s most prominent criminal lawyers, Eugene McGee, who has been charged over Sunday night’s fatal hit-and-run accident near Gawler, has sent a message of apology to the victim’s family. Barrister David Edwardson, who is temporarily acting for Mr McGee, said yesterday his client “wants to express his sincere sympathy and apologies to the deceased’s family”. Mr McGee, who is also a former police officer, allegedly killed cyclist father-of-three Ian Humphrey, about 5.20pm. He has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to render assistance and failing to stop after an accident. Mr Humphrey, 46, of Evanston Park, worked in the human resources management branch of the police department.

Criminal lawyer on hit-and-run charge
The crash occurred on the Gawler to Kapunda Rd, near Freeling, north of Adelaide.
It is understood Mr McGee was visiting relatives in Kapunda and was on the way back to his Collinswood home.

Following the crash, police found Mr McGee’s badly damaged late-model dark-green Mitsubishi Pajero at a Rowett St, Kapunda, address. No one was home. At midnight, Mr McGee, 49, handed himself over to police at the Adelaide City Watch House.It is unknown how he travelled from Kapunda to Adelaide. Police released Mr McGee on bail and he was expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on December 19.

Mr McGee has represented many high-profile criminals in his career. He has acted for Snowtown serial killer James Vlassakis, disgraced magistrate Peter Liddy and lawyer Scott Aitken, who received a suspended sentence after killing two children in a car crash. Mr McGee also represented Judge Neal Hume who was caught drink-driving – three times over the legal limit – on January 19, 2002. Judge Hume quit the bench soon after. Members of the legal fraternity were yesterday shocked to hear one of their own was charged in relation to the crash.

If found guilty, Mr McGee may face disciplinary action – including suspension – by the Legal Practitioners Conduct Tribunal. Police said the four-wheel-drive and Mr Humphrey were both travelling south along the road which is also known as Thiele Hwy. Mr Humphrey’s bicycle was struck from behind. The front of the four-wheel-drive was badly damaged, police said.

All that was left marking the scene of the crash yesterday afternoon were the yellow paint marks used by Major Crash investigators. What was different from most other accident scenes were two suited men, believed to be Mr McGee’s lawyer, Mr Edwardson, and a road accident reconstructor hired by the legal team looking over the long, straight stretch of road where the accident occurred.

Talking among themselves – checking and double-checking facts – the pair left shortly after 3pm. Mr McGee was unavailable for comment and his barrister declined to comment further.