Former ACT chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold has launched a legal challenge against an inquiry into the actions of police and prosecutors involved in the case, claiming it was biased and denied him natural justice.Farmer dies following 'catastrophic' storm in Victoria
On the first day of the case, Drumgold's lawyers said Sofronoff's frequent communication with The Australian's columnist Janet Albrechtsen had "infected" him with her bias against the former director of public prosecutions. Albrechtsen was the most persistent of the journalists and the contact between the pair did not reflect special treatment on his behalf, the court was told.
Kate Eastman SC, representing the ACT government, said claims made by Drumgold's lawyers that Sofronoff had been "infected" with bias and had been "poisoned" against the ex-DPP lacked evidence. She said several of Albrechtsen's articles were reports of other people's views relating to Drumgold. Dan O'Gorman SC, representing Drumgold, argued negative comments about his client's conduct made by Sofronoff in a text message to Albrechtsen just two days before the inquiry's public hearings started, was evidence the chair's mind was against him.