South Australian drug trafficker Domenic Perre has been found guilty of the 1994 National Crime Bombing in Adelaide.
Key points:
- The 1994 bombing at the National Crime Authority office killed a police officer and seriously injured a lawyer.
- Domenic Perre was immediately identified as a suspect, but the first charges were dropped in September 1994.
- In 2018 he was charged again and today he has been found guilty
The explosion of daylight at the CBD in Adelaide claimed the lives of Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and lawyer Peter Wallis seriously injured.
Perre sent a bomb package to Detective Sergeant Bowen’s Waymouth Street office in March 1994 to avenge the police officer’s investigation into the Perre family’s drug business.
Perre was immediately identified as a suspect, but the first charges were dropped in September 1994.
He was charged again in 2018.
After a seven-month trial, Judge Kevin Nicholson today found Perre guilty of murder and attempted murder.
Geoffrey Bowen was killed by the bomb in the NCA office.
The 65-year-old man was already in custody on other charges.
The prosecution’s case against Perre was entirely circumstantial.
Perre intended to kill, the judge finds
Judge Kevin Nicholson found before the attack that Perre had shown a keen interest in high explosives, had access to methods to make high explosives, had access to all components of the NCA bomb, had successfully experimented with a high explosive and had expressed extreme anger and intent to “get” someone with “some kind of postpak stuff.”
He found that Perre was motivated to cause harm to the NCA and Geoffrey Bowen specifically, and had taken action after the attack to clean up and remove objects from his shed “to a level of obsession that strongly indicates the fear” that the pump waste could still be. available to the police.
Garbage from the National Crime Authority explosion in 1994 on Waymouth Street. (Supplied by: Supreme Court of SA)
“These matters, taken as a whole, establish beyond any reasonable doubt that Domenic Perre built and placed the NCA bomb and caused the death of Mr. Bowen and the injuries of Mr. Wallis,” the judge said. Nicholson.
“In my assessment of the circumstances, I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Perre must have intended to kill anyone who opened the postpak, whether or not Mr. Bowen, and anyone else who was with that person at the time of the accident. detonation “.
Police efforts were praised
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens praised investigators for their continued efforts to solve the crime.
“This is one of those investigations that will go down in the history books of South Australia in relation to the effort that was made to get a conviction,” he said.
“I think it’s a testimony to the South Australian police, our detectives, our crime investigation branch and it’s a message to anyone who thinks they can get away with a crime in South Australia, no we surrender “.
A police image of the damage caused by the NCA bombing in Adelaide in March 1994. (Supplied by: SA Police)
Detective Des Bray, superintendent of major crimes, said he was pleased with today’s verdict and thanked the community for their support and all the witnesses who came forward.
“It does nothing to lessen the loss or pain and suffering of families, or take away everything Geoff lost in his life or the impact it had on Peter in his life,” he said.
“Today is a time for everyone to reflect and think about the Bowen and Wallis families and everyone else in the police community who were affected by this terrible event. So today Dominic is leaving to begin his prison sentence. and South Australia is a much safer place for that. “
Geoffrey Bowen’s brother-in-law, David Gorton, spoke on behalf of the family out of court with Sergeant Bowen’s son by his side. (ABC News)
Sergeant Bowen’s brother-in-law, David Gorton, spoke on behalf of the family.
“Despite the years that have passed since 1994, justice has been done today,” he said.
“While many years have passed, this criminal act has been at the forefront of our thoughts.
“Today’s guilty verdict will allow us to move forward, knowing that the individual who caused Geoffrey’s death, among other serious crimes, has finally been convicted.”
Wallis valued “truth and justice above all else”
As a result of the attack, Wallis received burns on 35% of his body and lost an eye.
When Perre was indicted in 2018, Wallis said he was “excited.” He died of a stroke later that year.
Her daughter Genievieve Wallis spoke out of court after the verdict.
Genievieve Wallis said it was a great pity that her father could not be present at the verdict. (ABC News)
“Peter Wallis was a lawyer, he was also our father, he was a son, a brother, a colleague, a friend and a partner.
“His life changed inconceivably on March 2, 1994, while investigating organized crime. As a result of the attack, his father lost his great companion Geoff, his career was cut short and he fought daily with the deep physical and emotional scars.
“There was no doubt that he was a different person after the attack.
“Our greatest sadness is that he is not here today: as a lawyer and as a human being, he valued truth and justice above all else.”
On behalf of her family, Ms. Wallis thanked police, investigators and prosecutors for helping to reach today’s verdict.
Posted 1 h ago 1 hd thu, June 30, 2022 at 12:08 AM, updated 5 m ago, 5 minutes ago, Thu, June 30, 2022 at 1:54 AM