New head for corruption watchdog

A former District Court judge who presided over one of WA’s most notorious bikie trials will be the new head of the Corruption and Crime Commission. Roger Macknay was today endorsed by the parliamentary committee which oversees the corruption watchdog, ending a year-long search for a replacement for Len Roberts-Smith. But Mr Macknay will not take on the new position for several weeks because he wants to be fully briefed on the State Government’s plan to change the focus of the agency from busting corruption to fighting crime. Mr Macknay predominantly practised civil law before being appointed as a judge in November, 1994. He resigned from the bench in May, 2009. In the late 1990s he was on the bench when four God’s Garbage bikies were on trial in connection with the alleged pack rape and suicide of 31-year-old Quinninup mother-of-three, Lynette Higgins. Judge Macknay was forced to discharge the jury after members could not decide whether the bikies were guilty of attempting to obstruct the course of justice. The accused men walked free after the retrial, which was before a different judge, after each being hit with fines of $4000. Lawyers yesterday described Mr Macknay as a calm, even-tempered man who was well respected by the State’s jurists.