Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Duncan Murray

Inquiry to grill NSW police over unsolved LGBTQI deaths

NSW police have to answer for investigative failures relating to unsolved historic LGBTQI deaths. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Top NSW police are being forced to answer for investigative failures and missing evidence relating to unsolved historic LGBTQI hate crime deaths.

Now in its 13th hearing block, the broad-ranging inquiry was established following an internal police probe known as Parabell, which examined 88 deaths between 1976 and 2000, determining 27 were gay hate crimes.

The inquiry has scrutinised the police response to the crimes, which were committed at a time when people in the police force and broader society often displayed an intense prejudice against the LGBTQI community.

On Tuesday, the inquiry heard key physical evidence was unable to be produced because it had been "lost or destroyed".

Other expected lines of inquiry this week are the training and education of NSW homicide detectives, including possible bias in dealing with the LGBTQI community.

Witnesses to appear before the inquiry on Wednesday include Crime Scene Services Branch Superintendent Roger Best, and Homicide Detective Inspector Nigel Warren.

The latest block of hearings will wrap up on Thursday, with Supreme Court Justice John Sackar due to deliver a final report in August.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.