Scott Austic celebrates first night of freedom with beer after murder acquittal

After spending more than a decade in prison for murdering his secret pregnant lover Stacey Thorne, Scott Austic celebrated his first night as an innocent man by tasting his first beer in nearly 13 years. “It has been a long time,” he said. “I’ll probably only need a couple more and that’ll be it for me.” Mr Austic looked relaxed in what he now calls his “lucky court shirt” surrounded by friends and family, including his brother, mother, step dad and aunty. After an exhaustive three-week trial, 12 jurors took less than three hours to clear him of Ms Thorne’s murder. Overwhelmed by the verdict, Mr Austic became emotional when he recalled the moment he was asked to stand in the docks of the Supreme Court. “To hear them 12 jurors say not guilty today, brought tears to my eyes,” he said. Attorney-General John Quigley today signalled his willingness to consider compensation for Mr Austic. “Scott Austic spent 12 years in prison for a crime that a jury found, on appeal, he did not commit,” Mr Quigley said. “I expect he may seek compensation from Government for this injustice. “We will consider any such request if and when we receive it.” Mr Austic’s lawyer, Clint Hampson, said he believed his client might have a strong claim for compensation and a multimillion-dollar payout would not be unrealistic based on other cases. In 2009, Andrew Mallard received a $3.25 million compensation payment from the WA Government after being wrongfully jailed for 12 years over the 1994 murder of Mosman Park jeweller Pamela Lawrence. At the time, Mr Quigley, who was then the shadow attorney-general and a long-time supporter of Mr Mallard, described the sum as “insulting and miserable” and “grossly inadequate”. The miscarriage of justice in Mr Mallard’s case was made more serious by police corruption leading up to his prosecution. The spectre of police corruption has loomed over the Austic case, with his appeal based around the sensational claims that detectives may have planted crucial pieces of evidence — a bloodied cigarette packet, a bloodied Jim Beam can, and a bloodied knife said to be the murder weapon. Hayley Thorne, Stacey’s sister, said she stood by the original investigation but wanted the case reopened and her sibling’s killer brought to justice. “All I want is the truth. Whoever’s the killer, they are walking free,” she said. “It’s like an Aboriginal who got murdered and her baby didn’t exist.”

Scott Austic celebrates first night of freedom with beer after murder acquittal

50% off subscriptions.

Digital

Everyday Digital

$1 a day

Digital & Print

Weekend Papers + Everyday Digital

$9 per week

PRE-ORDER HEREPre-order your copy of the gripping new crime story by Tim Clarke now!

Regional Network

Contact Us

Broome Advertiser