The Advertiser: It’s like my Ian being killed all over again
EXCLUSIVE: By ALEXANDRA ECONOMOU and GREG KELTON
A HEARTBROKEN and “emotionally drained” Diana Gilcrist-Humphrey is branding the sentence given to lawyer Eugene McGee as the equivalent of her husband being “killed all over again”.

In a written statement to The Advertiser, Ms Gilcrist-Humphrey said she felt “numb” that McGee – who admitted fatally hitting her husband, cyclist Ian Humphrey – had walked from the District Court with a $3100 fine and a 12-month driver’s licence suspension. “The judgment delivered (on Thursday), like so many other milestones within this case, has been the equivalent of having Ian killed all over again,” Ms Gilcrist-Humphrey said. “The enormous support of the South Australian public touches my severely broken heart.

“It is so reassuring to know that the decision of the court does not reflect the values of the community. “At this time, I consider that it is inappropriate for me to make further comment on the specific aspects of the case. “As I am sure you will all understand, at the moment I am feeling incredibly emotionally drained, physically exhausted and numb.”

Her comments were made as Premier Mike Rann announced an independent judicial inquiry into how the case was handled. A retired interstate judge or QC will be asked by the State Government to hold the independent inquiry. Mr Rann announced the move after hours of consultations with legal experts and political advisers. Full details of the inquiry will be announced next week when Parliament sits in Mt Gambier. Mr Rann said key questions to be examined by the inquiry included how McGee managed to avoid being breath tested, why two witnesses were not asked to give evidence, and why expert evidence was not called to rebut the defence’s psychiatric evidence.

In other developments yesterday:
- IAN Humphrey’s brother, Graham, welcomed the inquiry, saying the truth had to come out.
- A PETITION with 2500 signatures calling for a tougher sentence was circulated.
- LAW Society of SA president Alexander Ward said McGee could return to practice as a lawyer if no complaints were made to the Legal Practitioners Professional Conduct Board.

Mr Ward said the matter would be discussed by the society’s professional standards committee next month