Adelaide Advertiser: McGees slam Rann and A-G - 5 October, 2006

Eugene and Craig McGee claim they cannot get a fair trial because of media coverage and comments made by the Premier and Attorney-General relating to their case. The brothers are each charged with one count of conspiring to attempt to pervert the course of justice. In court documents, Eugene says comments made by Premier Mike Rann and Attorney-General Michael Atkinson about the events relating to the charge have “amounted to the disparagement of (his) character and a declaration of his criminal culpability which preclude his ability to have a fair trial.”

Craig claims the comments have “amounted to pre-judgment at the highest level of the applicant’s guilt, thereby rejecting the possibility of a fair trial”. The charges relate to the hours immediately after Eugene McGee killed cyclist Ian Humphrey in a hit-run collision in November, 2003, and carry a maximum four-year jail term. The men, seeking a permanent stay of the proceedings, will have the matter heard at a later date.