Source: New National
The NSW government must explain how convicted murderer Des Campbell was employed by the NSW Ambulance Service despite a previous conviction for assault, the state opposition says. A Sydney jury on Tuesday found Des Campbell guilty of murdering his new wife in 2005, by pushing her off a 50-metre cliff at Sydney’s Royal National Park.
The 52-year-old ambulance officer and former police officer had claimed Janet Campbell, 49, accidentally fell when she left their tent to go to the toilet on March 24, 2005. The newlyweds had been in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, on their first camping trip together.
NSW opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner called on the government to explain how Campbell became employed by the NSW Ambulance Service despite having a Victorian conviction for assault. Under NSW Ambulance Service policy Campbell should have undergone a criminal background check, she said. “Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt must explain how it came to pass that convicted murderer Des Campbell was previously employed by the NSW Ambulance Service,” Mrs Skinner said in a statement on Wednesday. “Carmel Tebbutt is obliged to detail what background checks were undertaken in respect of Des Campbell’s employment to ensure the public has confidence in the NSW Ambulance Service.” Comment is being sought from Ms Tebbutt.
Campbell had also previously worked as a policeman, army commander of paratroopers and insurance investigator. Later, a spokesman for the Ambulance Service said it confined its criminal checks on Campbell to NSW. “At the time Des Campbell joined the Ambulance Service criminal checks were confined to NSW,” the spokesman said. “However, this has now changed and all persons applying for a position with Ambulance undergo conduct probity screening on a national basis with all state police services and the Federal Police. “This criminal record check is for five years prior to the date of the check for all general convictions, and whole of life for all convictions involving serious matters, children and sexual offences.”