Inmate Refuses Oath
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday November 26, 2003
GREG Domaszewicz confessed to killing Moe toddler Jaidyn Leskie by hitting him with a crowbar to stop him screaming, a former fellow inmate told an inquest yesterday.
But in a dramatic development, a second prisoner, who previously alleged other admissions from Mr Domaszewicz, refused to testify, citing fears for the safety of himself and his family.
Prisoner F, who cannot be identified, refused even to take an oath, despite a formal direction from the State Coroner, Graeme Johnstone.
``Has anyone threatened you?" Mr Johnstone asked.
``I'm not prepared to elaborate any further," Prisoner F, who is still in custody, replied.
His refusal followed evidence from a convicted murderer, Prisoner R, who told the inquest Mr Domaszewicz admitted killing the 13-month-old boy.
Prisoner R said Mr Domaszewicz explained Jaidyn's arm was broken when the car he was working on fell off its jack.
``The car was on the jack and the baby somehow got its arms caught under the car, that's all I know," Prisoner R reported Mr Domaszewicz as saying.
``The child was screaming and he didn't know what to do so he slipped him something to make him calmer.
``He said that he couldn't shut the baby up so he put a pillow over his head and hit it with a crowbar."
As Mr Domaszewicz recounted the incident to Prisoner R, he appeared to have flashbacks becoming ``hot and sweaty and a bit nervous and paranoid", the inquest heard.
In November 1998, with the trial against Mr Domaszewicz almost over, Prisoner R made a statement to police about the alleged confession.
Soon after, Mr Domaszewicz, who had been babysitting the night Jaidyn disappeared in June 1997, was acquitted by a Supreme Court jury.
Cross-examined by Colin Lovitt, QC, for Mr Domaszewicz, Prisoner R said he was not aware he spoke to police the same day as another inmate, prisoner M, even though Mr Domaszewicz's alleged confession had been made months earlier.
The inquest resumes today.
AAP
© 2003 Newcastle Herald