Greens call for inquiry into Marlon Noble case

The WA Greens have today introduced a motion calling for an inquiry into the case of Mr Marlon Noble, a mentally impaired man who has been in prison for ten years without trial.

“The tragic case of Mr Noble languishing in jail first came to wider public attention at the beginning of this year and since that time rather than Mr Noble’s situation being resolved more and more questions surrounding not only Mr Noble’s ongoing incarceration but indeed the circumstances surrounding the original charges have emerged, “Alison Xamon MLC, Greens spokesperson for Disability and mover of the motion said today.

“What we certainly know is that Mr Noble was never found guilty of anything.  He was found not fit to plead and yet the Guardianship Board has since found him competent with assistance.  And now, 10 years after Mr Noble was originally incarcerated the DPP finally decided to withdraw the original charges entirely.

“Yet Mr Noble is still in jail with no final release date in sight.

“The media attention earlier this year prompted a Corrective Services investigation by former DPP prosecutor Robert Cock QC into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of leave provisions which had previously been granted to Mr Noble.  Mr Noble was subsequently exonerated, serious breaches of the prison regulations were found to have occurred, yet nobody within Corrective Services has been made liable for what happened to Mr Noble.

“And evidence has started to emerge that there have been other potential breaches of Mr Noble’s rights.”

Ms Xamon’s motion calls for a select committee to be established to inquire into the circumstances surrounding Mr Noble’s case.

“Not only is this a frightening lapse in our justice system, but even from an economic perspective it is an unnecessary financial burden for taxpayers, since it is more expensive to incarcerate Mr Noble than to release him with supervision.  

“Mr Noble has never been given the opportunity to defend or appeal the charges against him, or to clear his name. Now there are not even charges against him. I believe a parliamentary inquiry is an essential step in getting justice for Mr Noble, which is a basic human right,” Ms Xamon added.