ABC Radio : Friday 29 June 2001
A jury's split verdict in the trial for the murder in 1994 of the NSW MP, John Newman,
is the latest twist in a convoluted seven-year saga.
The man painted as Mr Newman's Labor Party rival for the seat of Cabramatta in Sydney's
west, Phuong Ngo, has been found guilty of his murder.
Today's decision in the Darlinghurst Supreme Court leaves open the question of who
actually shot John Newman at his home in Cabramatta.
David Dinh, who who accused of pulling the trigger, and Tu Quang Dao, who accused of
driving the getaway car, were both today acquitted of murder.
During the trial, defence counsel repeatedly referred to a witness, who cannot be named,
who according to the evidence, took a leading role in purchasing several firearms, one of
which was used in the shooting.
Outside the court today, Mr Newman's mother and brother expressed thanks that after a
coronial inquest, an aborted trial and a trial which ended in a hung jury, someone has
been convicted of Mr Newman's murder.
However, they expressed their desire to know the full truth about the killing.
"That's why I'd like Phuong Ngo to come clean and confess the whole thing, everything
that he knows," Mr Peter Naumenko, Newman's brother said.
"I'd like him now for his own benefit, for his own conscience, just to come clean.
"He's been found guilty, take it on the chin, he did the crime... he's going to do
the time."
Mr Newman's mother, Helene Naumenko, welcomed the guilty verdict for the man accused of
organising her son's murder, saying she is glad "we got the big fish" but says
she would have liked all three men to have been found guilty.
"I would say we got the big fish, but I would like to have the other two too, the
little fish, they don't deserve to be on the street, they [have] done the same thing and
especially the shooter. I want the shooter locked away," Mrs Naumenko said.
Disappointment
Mr Newman's former fiancee has expressed her disappointment at the acquittal of the two
men accused of his murder.
Lucy Wang was with Mr Newman in the driveway of their western Sydney home when the
politician was fatally shot.
Speaking in Beijing, Ms Wang said although she is pleased to see the main perpetrator of
the crime convicted, she is shocked at the two other verdicts.
"I am very disappointed in the legal system," she said.
"I do no believe justice has been fully achieved in this case.
"I feel very frustrated and angered at knowing there is no further recourse against
these two individuals."
Vietnamese community
Fairfield councillor Thang Ngo says the Vietnamese community is concerned about its image,
following the guilty verdict.
"At the end of the day, they are still worried that a guilty verdict is not seen as a
guilty verdict just for one person who has been convicted, but it is seen as a guilty
verdict for the entire community and their children," he said.
"That is what they are worried about the most."