Guard will be charged with murder: police

 

August 2, 2004 - 2:07PM

Sydney security guard Karen Brown, who shot dead a robber last week, will appear in court next month to face a charge of murder, police said.

NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said Karen Brown had been handed a court attendance notice to face the murder charge on September 13 at Liverpool Local Court.

He said she was currently being interviewed by detectives.

"She is in receipt of a court attendance notice which requires her to appear at Liverpool court," Commissioner Moroney told reporters.

"The court attendance notice is akin to a summons ... legal proceedings are now underway."

Ms Brown shot dead William Aquilina, 25, after he assaulted her and robbed her of a bag of money outside the Moorebank Hotel in Sydney's south-west last Monday.

Mr Moroney said Ms Brown was still with police and was ``assisting officers with their inquiries''.

Police were angered after Ms Brown was paid $100,000 to give a television interview about the shooting with the Seven Network's Today Tonight program, due to air tonight.

Mr Moroney urged the network to tread carefully over the planned broadcast, but confirmed police would not attempt to block the program.

``What's required now is caution,'' Mr Moroney said.

``In any of these legal proceedings ... speculation in relation to this event or any event is not helpful with respect to the cause of the prosecution or the cause of the defendant.''

Police were grateful that Ms Brown had attended the police station earlier than had been planned, the commissioner said.

Her lawyers had previously said she would only talk to police at 11am (AEST) tomorrow as agreed last week.

Mr Moroney expressed concern at the actions of some media outlets since the incident last Monday.

``I'm satisfied that (my detectives) have been extremely reciprocal with requests to assist Ms Brown and I'm extremely disappointed more than anything else at the way in which some media outlets have approached this whole issue.''

There was no longer a need to pursue an injunction to prevent tonight's program going to air, as Ms Brown was effectively charged, he said.

Ms Brown would remain free and not subject to bail conditions until she was required to appear at Liverpool Local Court next month, he said.

AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/02/1091412042938.html