Vic: Mother reaches settlement over son's shooting death

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2007
Vic: Mother reaches settlement over son's shooting death

MELBOURNE, April 19 AAP - A mother who was suing the State of Victoria and a prison
officer who shot her inmate son dead has received $20,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

Fabrizio Bartolo Federico killed prisoner Garry Whyte in a corridor of Melbourne's
St Vincent's Hospital on May 7, 2002.

Whyte, who was on remand for burglary, theft and attempting to escape charges, was
being taken to the hospital for a CAT scan.

In November 2005, Victorian Supreme Court Justice Philip Cummins directed the jury
to acquit Mr Federico of murder.

He said the prosecution failed to prove Mr Federico was not acting in self-defence.

Whyte's mother, Nora Gauld, launched a personal injury claim against the prison guard,
the State of Victoria and St Vincent's Hospital for nervous shock.

Ms Gauld dropped the legal action against the hospital and was due to take the matter
to trial against the other parties in the Victorian County Court today.

But the parties reached a $20,000 out-of-court settlement, with a denial of liability
by the State of Victoria and Mr Federico.

Ms Gauld's lawyer, Adam Hill, said it had been a long legal road for his client.

"She is pleased but remains very upset at the death of her son, whom she loved dearly," he said.

"If someone loses a child it takes a very long time, if at all, to get over it."

AAP mj/gfr/cp/cdh

KEYWORD: GAULD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.