A lawyer for David Bradford, the Queensland man who killed his wife and then himself on Tuesday, has defended the decision that saw the accused released on bail two weeks prior.
Speaking on The Today Show this morning, Mark Donnelly of Kroesen and Co Lawyers argued that while Bradford’s subsequent murder of his estranged wife, Teresa, was “tragic”, his client’s lack of criminal history meant he probably should have been freed sooner.
“I thought the decision to grant bail was appropriate in the circumstances, Mr Bradford didn’t have any criminal history, this was a single incident,” he said.
“In relation to bail I think it was actually the right thing to do, he should have been given bail sooner than spending 44 days in custody.”
The 52-year-old fatally stabbed Mrs Bradford at her Pimpama home on Tuesday morning before taking his own life, both of which occurred in front of their children.
Mr Bradford had been released from police custody just two weeks prior to the attack, after being charged in relation to a previous assault against Ms Bradford on November 28.
According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, the 40-year-old alleged that her husband had slapped her, taped her mouth shut and punched her until she fell unconscious.
Bradford was granted bail on January 12 after being held in custody since December 1.
Interviewing Donnelly this morning, Today host Lisa Wilkinson noted that many of Teresa Bradford's friends had claimed the mother of four was "in fear of her life" and that police had argued strongly against her husband's release.
But Donnelly defended the decision.
"Police take statements from witnesses, Mrs Bradford was the complainant, and charges were laid, so based on that police believed her," he said.
"But my client is the accused, so he has the presumption of innocence until proven guilty."
The tragedy has sparked a review into bail laws by the Queensland government, which will consider placing the onus of proof on the accused.
Top Comments
There should be no bail for perpetrators of domestic violence. A true zero tolerance. It is time we built more jails, more remand centres and brought in tougher mandatory sentences for crime. DV - no bail and mandatory minimum jail time. Pedophilia - life. I know where we can get the money from....let's stop funding men's sport for a while. This should get male politicians on board.
Yes the defendant does has the presumption of innocence but there was compelling evidence from not just the complainant of a fear for her safety. Now those innocent children have been robbed of their innocence and their mother (and father)