Qld: Court to be asked to disqualify magistrate in Childers case

AAP General News (Australia)
01-02-2001
Qld: Court to be asked to disqualify magistrate in Childers case

By Janelle Miles

BRISBANE, Jan 2 AAP - The Queensland Supreme Court should decide tomorrow whether a
magistrate is to be disqualified from hearing the case of a man accused of causing the
fatal Childers backpacker hostel tragedy.

Robert Paul Long, 37, today appeared before magistrate Michael Halliday for a committal
hearing charged with arson and the murder of two backpackers - West Australian twin sisters,
Stacey Louise Slarke and Kelly June Slarke, 22.

Long's defence counsel Craig Chowdhury unsuccessfully asked Mr …