Guilty

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday April 24, 2008

*VERONICA APPAP REPORTS - P5

SHELLHARBOUR councillor Helen Stewart's cat-and-cuppa defence failed to impress the Land and Environment Court which yesterday found she leaked a confidential Department of Local Government report to a community website.

Justice Peter Biscoe found that Cr Stewart leaked a draft report of the department's Promoting Better Practices review to Peter Holstein for the community forum website in May 2006.

The allegation was the only one of three against Cr Stewart that was proved. Cr Geoff Rose was cleared of the same allegations.

During the court hearings, Cr Stewart claimed her cat - the late Socks - had spilt a cup of tea on the report. Mr Holstein's version of the report was not tea-stained and Cr Stewart had argued it meant she did not leak her version of the review to him.

Justice Biscoe's judgment said he doubted the reliability of the "tea stain" evidence.

A visibly upset Cr Stewart - who had to mortgage her home to pay her legal bills - vowed to fight on and clear her name.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home