OMEN
04-28-2006, 09:52 PM
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Kovco ... Defence will not change its version of events
HOMICIDE detectives have been called in by the NSW Coroner to investigate the shooting death of soldier Jake Kovco, as a fresh row emerged last night over the repatriation of the Bosnian contractor whose body was mistakenly flown in his place to Australia.
NSW state Coroner John Abernethy will take charge of the inquiry, and Private Kovco's body, which was due to arrive at Sydney airport at 6.30am today.
Mr Abernethy has arranged for State Crime Command to handle the investigation together with the army's special investigations branch. The Coroner's office will also conduct a post-mortem examination on Private Kovco's body as part of the process to establish the cause of death.
Mr Abernethy said that once Private Kovco's body arrived in Sydney, he would "assume jurisdiction in relation to any inquiry into his identity, the date and place of his death and the manner and cause of his death".
The involvement of homicide detectives does not mean the Coroner or police consider Private Kovco's death a criminal matter, only that the correct cause of death is yet to be established. But the bungled return of Private Kovco's body continued to embarrass the Federal Government, with a potential diplomatic incident emerging over the body of Bosnian contractor Juso Sinanovic, who was mistakenly shipped to Australia on Wednesday night instead of Private Kovco.
A spokesman for Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls told The Weekend Australian that Victorian Coroner Graeme Johnstone assumed responsibility for investigating the death "as soon as (the body) touched down in Melbourne". It is understood the body cannot be released until it is positively identified.
The Weekend Australian understands Mr Sinanovic's family in Sarajevo was being informed of the latest developments last night, including the fact the body was being held in Melbourne.
The family of Private Kovco, a highly trained sniper who died in Baghdad last Friday after his own weapon apparently discharged accidentally as he was dealing with his equipment on return from patrol, has accused the Government and the army of a cover-up and refuse to believe he accidentally shot himself.
John Howard yesterday pledged there would be no cover-up after Private Kovco's grief-stricken mother said differing descriptions of how her 25-year-old son died made no sense.
Private Kovco's body will be met this morning by members of his family, including his widow, Shelley, who requested the body be returned to Sydney so that it could be received by his regiment.
The family, from the rural Victorian town of Briagalong, was flown to Sydney yesterday from the RAAF base at Sale, in eastern Victoria.
The body will also be met by Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, Defence Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and an honour guard from Private Kovco's Sydney-based regiment, 3RAR.
Private Kovco's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mumford, said yesterday the regiment was "distressed at the whole process and we're looking forward to providing him with the honour that he is due".
State Crime Command would not comment on whether detectives would interview members of Private Kovco's unit, including the two soldiers who were present when he was shot, but who, according to Defence officials, did not see the incident take place.
Doubts about the circumstances of Private Kovco's death continued to be aired yesterday, when the former head of Australia's military, General Peter Cosgrove, was asked on radio whether, in his 40 years of military service, he had seen a pistol such as Private Kovco's self-detonate. He replied: "Weapons tend not to self-detonate."
According to former soldiers, three conditions at least would have to be present: the gun would have to have been loaded, which would have been a breach of standing orders pertaining to barracks; the safety mechanism would have to have been off, which was unlikely for an experienced sniper; and the trigger would have to have been pulled, with the barrel aimed at Private Kovco's head.
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Kovco ... Defence will not change its version of events
HOMICIDE detectives have been called in by the NSW Coroner to investigate the shooting death of soldier Jake Kovco, as a fresh row emerged last night over the repatriation of the Bosnian contractor whose body was mistakenly flown in his place to Australia.
NSW state Coroner John Abernethy will take charge of the inquiry, and Private Kovco's body, which was due to arrive at Sydney airport at 6.30am today.
Mr Abernethy has arranged for State Crime Command to handle the investigation together with the army's special investigations branch. The Coroner's office will also conduct a post-mortem examination on Private Kovco's body as part of the process to establish the cause of death.
Mr Abernethy said that once Private Kovco's body arrived in Sydney, he would "assume jurisdiction in relation to any inquiry into his identity, the date and place of his death and the manner and cause of his death".
The involvement of homicide detectives does not mean the Coroner or police consider Private Kovco's death a criminal matter, only that the correct cause of death is yet to be established. But the bungled return of Private Kovco's body continued to embarrass the Federal Government, with a potential diplomatic incident emerging over the body of Bosnian contractor Juso Sinanovic, who was mistakenly shipped to Australia on Wednesday night instead of Private Kovco.
A spokesman for Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls told The Weekend Australian that Victorian Coroner Graeme Johnstone assumed responsibility for investigating the death "as soon as (the body) touched down in Melbourne". It is understood the body cannot be released until it is positively identified.
The Weekend Australian understands Mr Sinanovic's family in Sarajevo was being informed of the latest developments last night, including the fact the body was being held in Melbourne.
The family of Private Kovco, a highly trained sniper who died in Baghdad last Friday after his own weapon apparently discharged accidentally as he was dealing with his equipment on return from patrol, has accused the Government and the army of a cover-up and refuse to believe he accidentally shot himself.
John Howard yesterday pledged there would be no cover-up after Private Kovco's grief-stricken mother said differing descriptions of how her 25-year-old son died made no sense.
Private Kovco's body will be met this morning by members of his family, including his widow, Shelley, who requested the body be returned to Sydney so that it could be received by his regiment.
The family, from the rural Victorian town of Briagalong, was flown to Sydney yesterday from the RAAF base at Sale, in eastern Victoria.
The body will also be met by Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, Defence Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy and an honour guard from Private Kovco's Sydney-based regiment, 3RAR.
Private Kovco's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mick Mumford, said yesterday the regiment was "distressed at the whole process and we're looking forward to providing him with the honour that he is due".
State Crime Command would not comment on whether detectives would interview members of Private Kovco's unit, including the two soldiers who were present when he was shot, but who, according to Defence officials, did not see the incident take place.
Doubts about the circumstances of Private Kovco's death continued to be aired yesterday, when the former head of Australia's military, General Peter Cosgrove, was asked on radio whether, in his 40 years of military service, he had seen a pistol such as Private Kovco's self-detonate. He replied: "Weapons tend not to self-detonate."
According to former soldiers, three conditions at least would have to be present: the gun would have to have been loaded, which would have been a breach of standing orders pertaining to barracks; the safety mechanism would have to have been off, which was unlikely for an experienced sniper; and the trigger would have to have been pulled, with the barrel aimed at Private Kovco's head.
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