POLICE 'BOTCH' DEATH PROBE

THE Queensland Government is under increasing pressure to hold an inquiry
into the death of a protected witness who had been due to give evidence
against a drugs syndicate. The West Australian Government yesterday asked
Queensland Police Minister Tom Bartonto reopen the investigation into the
death of Andrew Nicholas Petrelis.

Petrelis, 25, died in strange circumstances at Caloundra in 1995.

The request follows a report to the West Australian Parliament yesterday,
which raised "serious concerns" about the Queensland police investigation
into the death including a lack of DNA tests or drug and urine analysis.

Petrelis was found naked in a contorted position in a rented unit in
Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in September 1995 while on the West
Australian police witness protection programme.

A report by Len Roberts-Smith, QC, tabled in the West Australian Parliament
yesterday, found some "worrying features".

These included the fact that the right-handed Petrelis had used his left
hand to inject himself, apparently for the first time, in the right arm;
the fact that no spoon or other container used to mix the drug was found,
and that it appeared Petrelis did not use a tourniquet before "shooting-up".

Mr Roberts-Smith said photographs of the scene showed a belt on the kitchen
sink which was rolled up neatly and not near the table where Petrelis's
body was found.

He said there were also concerns about certain forensic science aspects of
the case, including how no DNA analysis was done, so there was no direct
proof the syringe found was the one used.

There was no analysis of the urine or injection area to prove Petrelis died
of a heroin overdose as opposed to another drug such as morphine, and no
quantitative test was done on the contents of the syringe, so the strength
of the drug was unknown.

Petrelis's cover was blown after two West Australian police gained access
to his details on a police computer without authorisation days before he
was relocated to Queensland.

Petrelis had been waiting to give evidence in a drug conspiracy trial.

Mr Roberts-Smith concluded Petrelis had not been murdered and it appeared
he died from an accidental drug overdose. But he said a Queensland coroner
was wrong to have ruled out an inquest into the death.

West Australian Police Minister Kevin Prince and Police Commissioner Barry
Matthews said they had written to their Queensland counterparts urging them
to hold a formal inquest.

Mr Roberts-Smith said it was not surprising acting Caloundra coroner Gordon
Crabtree failed to recommend an inquest, since police had not asked for one
and he was unaware Petrelis's parents had been demanding one.

A spokeswoman for Mr Barton said he would ask police for their advice about
whether to reopen the case.

"Obviously we would consider the request, but we're not about to make a
judgment call just yet," she said.

The inquest was one of 41 recommendations made in Mr Roberts-Smith's report
into the West Australian witness protection programme.