By Angie Raphael
LLOYD Rayney has broken his silence over charges that he murdered his wife after he was granted bail today in the Supreme Court.
Mr Rayney, who left the court flanked by his two young daughters, said he looked forward to clearing his name when he goes to trial next year, reported PerthNow.
“I am very grateful the court gave me a fair hearing,” he said outside court this evening.
“I am really overjoyed at the result and look forward to finally being able to prove my innocence.”
Mr Rayney will remain free until he faces trial over the wilful murder of his estranged wife Corryn.
Justice Robert Anderson granted bail subject to strict conditions, but his decision will allow Mr Rayney to spend Christmas with his two young daughters.
Mr Rayney was released after paying $100,000 to the court as well as providing a surety of $100,000.
If he does not appear at his trial he will have to pay $250,000.
The conditions of Mr Rayney’s bail are as follows:
– A $250,000 bail undertaking that Mr Rayney will forfeit if he fails to appear at trial
– A security by the deposit in cash of $100,000
– A surety undertaking by a third party of $100,000 that will be forfeited if Mr Rayney fails to appear
– Mr Rayney has to reside at his current residence of Monash Avenue in South Perth
– He must report to Cannington police station daily
– He must surrender his passport and must not apply for a new one
Outside the Supreme Court, Mr Rayney’s lawyer Gerald Yin said all Mr Rayney wanted today was a fair hearing.
“That is what he got. He is very pleased with the outcome and is looking forward to a fair trial as well,” Mr Yin said.
The August 2007 death of Supreme Court registrar Corryn Rayney has become one of WA’s most notorious unsolved murder cases.
Mr Rayney, 48, was arrested on December 8 and charged with her murder after several hours of questioning.
Bail application in court
Mr Rayney’s bail application was due to be heard in the Supreme Court last Friday morning but was delayed when the prosecutor delivered a 68-page document outlying its case to the defence shortly before the hearing.
Members of the Rayney family, including Mr Rayney’s daughters Caitlyn and Sarah, were in court for last Friday’s hearing and today’s hearing.
Mrs Rayney sister Sharon Coutinho and father Ernest da Silva were also in court.
In the Supreme Court today, Mr Rayney’s defence lawyer David Edwardson QC, asked for at least part of the trial to be held in a closed court to minimise the risk of a miscarriage of justice but the request was denied.
Mr Edwardson said there was “unprecedented media attention” on the trial with a lot of speculation about Mr Rayney circulating around the public.
“This is in one sense red hot,” he said.
“This case is unique if not unprecedented in this state.”
Mr Edwardson said the charges laid against his client were “utterly” unfounded and he had the support of his daughters.
“They are utterly supportive of their father,” he said.
“They are desperate to be with their father.”
Mr Edwardson said Mr Rayney was anxious to prove his innocence.
“He, like his children, wants the real perpetrator brought to justice,” he said.
Ms Rayney, a 44-year-old mother of two, disappeared at about 9.30pm on August 7, 2007 after leaving friends at her weekly class at Urban Cowboys Line Dancing School in Bentley.
Her silver Ford sedan was found seven days later, and her body was discovered in a bushland grave in Kings Park on August 16, 2007.
At the time, police said Mr Rayney was their prime and only suspect.
The barrister denied the accusation and began defamation proceedings, which have now been placed on hold.
He has maintained his innocence since his arrest two weeks ago.
Today Mr Edwardson made the submission that his client, who he says is the most recognisable person in the state, was not a flight risk.
He said in the past his client had informed police when he went overseas twice and was not likely to flee the country, even offering to hand over his Australian passport.
However, prosecutor John Agius, QC, said Rayney had dual citizenship and could still flee the country.
Source: www.heraldsun.com.au
