NSW: Attorney-General shares slain cop's family's distress

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2007
NSW: Attorney-General shares slain cop's family's distress

SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos says he shares the distress
of the family of murdered policeman Glenn McEnallay after a man involved in his murder
was sentenced to 11 years jail.

Senior Constable McEnallay was shot five times through the windscreen of his police
car after pursuing a stolen car at Hillsdale in Sydney's southeast in March 2002.

Motekiai Taufahema was driving the car and was originally convicted of murder and jailed
for 23 years, but the conviction was quashed on appeal.

He was sentenced today to 11 years jail with a seven-year non-parole period after pleading
guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Mr Hatzistergos said his thoughts remained with the family during this "difficult time".

"I share their distress," he said.

"It was a vicious and brutal murder.

"When the charges were dropped from murder to manslaughter I wrote to the DPP (Director
of Public Prosecutions asking for him to reconsider and passed on to the families concerned
about that decision."

Mr Hatzistergos said he was willing to provide further assistance to the McEnallay
family if needed.

Sione Penisini, who admitted shooting Snr Const McEnallay, was sentenced to 36 years for murder.

AAP nr/wjf/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: MCENALLAY AG

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