NSW: Bail sought for Mark Standen, isolated in jail with Einfeld

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2009
NSW: Bail sought for Mark Standen, isolated in jail with Einfeld

By Margaret Scheikowski

SYDNEY, Dec 17 AAP - Former NSW crime fighter Mark Standen has suffered significant
mental health damage while in custody awaiting his drugs trial, a judge has been told.

Summarising the 51-year-old's bail application on Thursday, his barrister Mark Ierace,
SC, said the damage flowed from his onerous segregation conditions.

He stressed the need for Standen to properly prepare for his trial, suggesting strict
bail conditions which would mean Standen was "under house arrest".

On Wednesday in the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Bruce James vacated the February 1 date
for Standen's trial on charges of plotting to import a commercial quantity of a chemical
precursor of the illicit drug ice.

Standen, who was a senior investigator with the NSW Crime Commission, has been on remand
since June 2008.

He denies the charges and is now expected to be tried around the middle of next year.

The judge was told Standen was virtually in isolation but was able to play Scrabble
with former Federal Court judge Marcus Einfeld, who is serving time in the same jail for
lying over a speeding ticket.

On Thursday, Justice James - who sentenced Einfeld - was shown newspaper reports referring
to the Scrabble contact and pointing out similarities in the men's lives.

"Another thing they share is me," the judge commented.

In opposing bail, crown prosecutor Tim Game, SC, submitted that Standen presented "as
a major flight risk", noting he faced very serious charges.

He said Standen had "poor" motivation to stay, citing the loss of his marriage, his
relationship and his house.

His brother, Grant Standen, gave evidence that he was willing to put up the family's
Sydney house as surety, and that Mark Standen could live there if he was granted bail.

He said that he would notify the authorities if he became aware his brother intended
to abscond, adding that he would not jeopardise the house.

Justice James is expected to give his decision later on Thursday.

AAP mss/wjf/dep/de

KEYWORD: STANDEN

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