The Advertiser: McGee brothers to face charges [27aug05] By Nigel Hunt
LAWYER Eugene McGee and his brother Craig late yesterday were reported by police for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Police revealed last night the pair would be summonsed to formally answer the charge in court at a date to be fixed.

Yesterday’s police action follows a recommendation on Wednesday by Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras, QC, to police that the pair “be charged with one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice or interfere with the due administration of the law”.

Under Section 256 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act the offence carries a maximum penalty of four years imprisonment. This follows consideration of the confidential 14-page closed report of the Kapunda Road Royal Commission.

The charges the McGees will face relate to their activities in the few hours after Eugene killed cyclist Ian Humphrey in a hit-run accident in November, 2003. During the royal commission, McGee gave evidence that his brother Craig alerted him when it was safe to go to their mother’s Kapunda house after police had already been there looking for him.

Craig McGee had also driven McGee to Adelaide on the night, at one point stopping at a police road block at the accident scene. He did not alert police at the road block that he had his brother in his vehicle, even though he knew they were looking for McGee in connection with the accident.

Eugene McGee was fined $3100 and disqualified from driving. He was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving, but found guilty of driving without due care. He had pleaded guilty to failing to stop.