Vic: Des Moran murder accused denied bail

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
Vic: Des Moran murder accused denied bail

Eds: Fixes Armour's age



Michelle Draper

MELBOURNE, April 14 AAP - A man accused of murdering gangland figure Des "Tuppence"

Moran will remain behind bars until his trial after he was refused bail.

Michael Farrugia, 45, is accused along with Judy Moran, 65, Suzanne Kane, 46, and Geoffrey
Armour, 44, of murdering Mr Moran, who was gunned down at an Ascot Vale cafe last June.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic said the murder charge Farrugia faced was too
serious to justify contemplating his release on bail despite "the matters personal to
you".

The bail hearing was told Farrugia was suffering from serious depression and that he
had contemplated suicide.

Farrugia's lawyer Mark Regan had argued his client should get bail because the crown's
case was largely circumstantial.

He said his client had family support, stable accommodation and was not at risk of
fleeing or reoffending.

Ms Popovic said she accepted the evidence of psychiatrist Associate Professor Julian
Davis that Farrugia was suffering from clinical depression, a matter she said she found
concerning.

But she said the seriousness of the allegations outweighed Farrugia's personal circumstances.

"In the context of an execution style murder in a crowded suburban shopping strip involving
a firearm, I do not consider the factors which have been put before me, although weighty,
to be exceptional," Ms Popovic said in her written reasons for refusing bail.

Prosecutor Claire Quin had argued the crown's case against Farrugia was strong and
the evidence pointed to Farrugia "being involved in a violent, very public crime".

Farrugia is alleged to have been the accomplice of Armour, who is accused of firing
the fatal shots at Mr Moran on June 15 last year.

The court heard the trial for the four co-accused may not take place until 2011.

Mr Regan said it was likely to involve five to six weeks of pre-trial hearings, before
a three to four month Supreme Court trial.

Farrugia on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Moran.

AAP md/gr/it/de

KEYWORD: MORAN WRAP

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