'Killer should stop wasting public money'

By Michelle Webster
Updated November 7 2012 - 12:19pm, first published November 27 2009 - 12:48am

SINCE her daughter's brutal murder 21 years ago, Bev Balding has had to endure constant reminders of the horrific crime that claimed Janine Balding's life.Anniversaries, holidays and birthdays all serve to remind of Janine's absence, but it is the almost annual threat of appeal by her killers that cause the Balding family immeasurable pain.Supporters of Stephen "Shorty" Jamieson, one of five people convicted of the 1988 abduction, rape and murder of Janine Balding, may be planning to make an application to the NSW Chief Justice for a judicial review in an attempt to prove Jamieson's innocence.Currently serving a life sentence, Jamieson has claimed he is the victim of mistaken identity, arguing another man known by the nickname "Shorty" was involved.Having endured numerous appeals by the convicted killers over the past 21 years, Mrs Balding was yesterday angered at the prospect of a judicial review."I think he's wasting our money and our time," she said."No more taxpayers money should be spent on this, it was proven beyond doubt that they are guilty."He's been proven guilty and he should pay the penalty, life should be life."Solicitor Peter Breen has taken a special interest in Jamieson's case, questioning the work of the DNA Review Panel which was set up nine years ago to review criminal convictions by DNA testing of evidence.Mrs Balding said she believed Mr Breen could put his time to better use, rather than assist one of the men she has no doubt had a hand in her daughter's murder.She said Carol Arrow, who was charged with being an accessory to Janine's murder, had previously stated Jamieson had been the correct individual."What possible reason would she have to not tell the truth about that?" she said."There were also other witnesses who identified him, it's just utter rubbish."Until the day they die we won't be able to rest."

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