Imagine getting falsely convicted by a group of police officers for something you never did. This is exactly what happened to Gene Gibson Back in 2012. I’m going to explain how the principles of justice were compromise in his case, but first I have to explain how he was falsely convicted. Gene came from a remote desert town in Australia and the only language he knew how to speak was Pintupi and could barely speak English. Gene was manipulated by the police into pleading guilty for the death of Joshua Warneke. The Principles of justice that were compromised in conviction of Gene Gibson were Equality before the law, right to a fair hearing and the right to appeal.
Equality before the law is the principle that each must be treated equally by the law and that all are subject to the same laws of justice. This principle was compromised in Gene Gibson’s trail and also when he was first witnessed about the death of Joshua Warneke. When Gene was first witnessed, he was never offered a translator even though the only language he knew how to speak was Pintupi. This compromised the case dramatically as he couldn’t tell the police officers the truth but also compromised the principle Equality before the law as the police never offered Gene a translator.
Right to a fair hearing is the principle where everyone has the rights to have criminal charges, and rights and obligations recognised by law. Gene Gibson’s was given a lawyer by the government to help him defend his case in the court room, but Gene still wasn’t given a Translator. Gene’s lawyer manipulated him into pleading guilty for the death of Joshua Warneke. Gene was then sentenced to seven and a half years in jail. The right to a fair hearing principle was compromised in this court case as Gene still wasn’t offered a translator and his lawyer manipulated him into pleading guilty.
The right to appeal is the principle to ask a court to appeal your conviction which means it has to go through another trail. After Gene Gibson had been in jail for five years, he appealed his case, the WA court of appeals reviewed his case and was given another trial. Gene was finally given a translator during this trial and also a lawyer. The court overturned his conviction as there wasn’t enough evidence to convict Gene Gibson for the death of Joshua Warneke. After Gene was freed from jail, he was given $1.3million by the WA government for being wrongfully imprisoned.
In conclusion, Gene Gibson was a young man who was falsely accused of the death of Joshua Warneke. Most of the principles of justice were compromised during his case. He had to go to jail for five years but was awarded $1.3million when he appealed and was successful by the WA government. Gene is still able to sue the government for more money because of the wrongful imprisonment, and also the police officers who compromised the case.