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On 30 August 2022, the Honourable Justice Wright directed, pursuant to s 79(1) of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) ('the CAR Act'), that an inquiry ('the Inquiry') be conducted into the convictions on 9 February 1981 of Maksimilian Bebic, Mile Nekic, Vjekoslav Brajkovic, Anton Zvirotic, Ilija Kokotovic and Joseph Kokotovic (together, the ‘Croatian Six’).
On 16 March 2023, the Honourable Chief Justice Bell of the New South Wales Supreme Court, pursuant to section 79(1)(a) of the CAR Act, appointed the Honourable Acting Justice Hulme ('the Inquirer') to conduct the Inquiry.
A copy of the judgment of Wright J of 30 August 2022 and the direction by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 16 March 2023 (PDF, 462.4 KB) are available.
The first hearing block in the Inquiry commenced on 4 December 2023. Counsel Assisting the Inquiry presented their opening address and evidence was adduced from Vjekoslav Brajkovic and Joseph Stipich. On 5 December 2023, the hearing was adjourned until 25 March 2024.
Further hearing blocks in the Inquiry ran from:
At these further hearing blocks, evidence was adduced from numerous retired NSW Police officers, Commonwealth officers and civilians who were involved in the original investigation and trial. The hearing is scheduled to resume on 4 November 2024.
The final hearings in the Inquiry will be on 4 to 7 November 2024.
The hearings will take place on Level 4 of the Chief Secretary’s Building, 121 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Public entry to the Chief Secretary’s Building is via Bridge Street, Sydney.
The hearings will be live-streamed on the Department of Communities and Justice YouTube channel.
Limited seating is available for members of the public at the hearing. Members of the public are encouraged to view the proceedings online via the livestream.
All live streams, recordings and other material published by the Inquiry are subject to Crown copyright. For media queries about permitted reproduction or distribution of the material, contact: media.unit@dcj.nsw.gov.au.
Any person who considers that they have information which may assist the Inquiry should contact the Solicitor assisting the Inquiry using the details provided on the Contact Us page.
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.