FORMER police media chief Stephen Linnell has pleaded guilty to perjury and will give evidence against Paul Mullett and Noel Ashby.

Former Police Media Director Stephen Linnell -

"Rats on his Mates"

Mr Linnell pleaded guilty to three counts of perjury and three counts of disclosing confidential information about a summons.

Mr Linnell's lawyer confirmed the plea during a brief appearance at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court this morning. Mr Linnell did not speak.

In July, former assistant commissioner Noel Ashby, police union boss Paul Mullett and Mr Linnell were charged following an inquiry by the Office of Police Integrity.

All three were in court for this morning's hearing, but Mr Ashby and Mr Mullett did not enter a plea.

Prosecutor Chris Ryan said Mr Linnell will give an undertaking to give evidence that could be used against Mr Mullett and Mr Ashby and had no prior convictions.

Despite some discussion about whether the issues involved in Linnell's case were too weighty to be dealt with summarily in the Magistrate's Court, a plea hearing was set for February 5.

Mr Mullett and Mr Ashby will face a committal hearing on May 11.

Charge sheets before presented to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in July set out how the men were accused of perjuring themselves at OPI hearings into the leaking of information on the 2003 murder of male prostitute Shane Chartres-Abbott.

Sen-Sgt Mullett, 52, faces five charges, including an attempt to pervert the course of justice by trying to warn Peter Lalor that his phones may be tapped.

Lalor has since been identified as a suspect in murder taskforce Briars.

He is also accused of trying to get information from Mr Ashby about a separate internal police disciplinary investigation. Mr Ashby, 52, is accused of lying under oath when he denied speaking to Mr Linnell about Operation Briars, Mr Lalor, or the prospect of Sen-Sgt Mullett's phone being tapped; claimed the content of the operation was unknown to him until September last year; and denied speaking to Sen-Sgt Mullett about any OPI investigation.

Mr Linnell, 39, was also accused of lying to the OPI.

Mr Ashby faces 29 charges including perjury, misleading the OPI director and disclosure relating to breaches of OPI confidentiality obligations.

Sen-Sgt Mullett faces five counts including perjury, misleading the OPI director and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Source: Herald Sun  12.11.2008

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