Gailene Hamilton, the woman who alleges she was stalked by a former police officer, has admitted in court to deleting several text messages from her mobile phone. The admission came during cross-examination in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Deletion of Messages
Ms Hamilton, 48, told the court that she had deleted text messages from her phone, but could not recall exactly how many or when. She said the deletions occurred before she reported the alleged stalking to police in 2021. The accused, former police officer Michael John Baird, 52, has pleaded not guilty to one count of stalking and two counts of breaching a restraining order.
Cross-Examination Details
Under questioning from Mr Baird's lawyer, Ms Hamilton agreed that she had deleted messages from the accused, but maintained that she had kept others. She also admitted to deleting messages from other people, including her ex-husband. The court heard that Ms Hamilton had previously provided a statement to police claiming she had kept all messages from Mr Baird.
When asked why she deleted the messages, Ms Hamilton said she did not want to see them anymore. She also said she had been under significant stress at the time. The defence lawyer suggested that Ms Hamilton had deleted messages that were favourable to Mr Baird, but she denied this.
Background of the Case
Mr Baird was a serving police officer at the time of the alleged offences. He is accused of stalking Ms Hamilton between 2019 and 2021, including repeatedly contacting her and turning up at her home and workplace. He is also alleged to have breached a restraining order taken out by Ms Hamilton.
The trial is expected to continue for several days. Ms Hamilton is expected to give further evidence, and the court will also hear from other witnesses, including police officers. Mr Baird has been suspended from the police force pending the outcome of the case.
Legal Implications
The deletion of text messages could be a significant issue in the case, as it may affect the credibility of Ms Hamilton's evidence. The prosecution will need to rely on other evidence, such as phone records and witness testimony, to support the allegations. The defence is likely to argue that the missing messages cast doubt on the prosecution's case.
The court has ordered that any further deletions of evidence be prevented, and both parties have been instructed to preserve all relevant materials. The case has attracted significant attention due to the involvement of a former police officer.
