Policewoman's grief for murdered family

Overwhelming grief: The children's mother has thanked the community for their support.

A funeral is being held for the grandmother and two children who were murdered at Cowra, in the New South Wales central west, last week.

About 200 people including dozens of police officers have filed into St Raphael's Catholic Church to farewell 52-year-old Jean Walsh and her grandchildren, seven-year-old Kevin and five-year-old Jaime.

Among the mourners is the children's mother Shelley Walsh, who discovered the bodies shortly after arriving home from her job as a police officer at Parkes.

Her father, 69-year-old John Walsh, is accused of murdering his wife and grandchildren and attempting to murder his daughter. He was arrested just hours after police launched a statewide man-hunt.

Ms Walsh has issued a statement through the NSW Police Association, describing her grief as overwhelming.

She also thanked the community for its support and asked for time to grieve privately.

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Bell children farewelled with balloons
A family friend, pastor John Thompson of the Seven Day Adventists, is giving the service. He says the children's mother, Karen Bell, will make a symbolic gesture to draw attention to family violence.

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Officer 'blocked camera, fudged breath test'

A corruption inquiry has heard a policeman in the New South Wales central west showed a fellow policeman's son how to block the station's camera and did a breath test to help him get off a drink-driving charge.

The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) is investigating two cases of misconduct involving police and random breath tests.

It is alleged that in December last year, P-plater Adam Clunes recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.20 after being stopped by Orange police.

Today, Adam Clunes admitted he had at least six drinks before driving.

The policewoman who took the breath test knew he was the son of long-serving officer Colin Clunes, who had recently been her supervisor.

She called Mr Clunes and told him his son was in custody.

The inquiry has been played a DVD taken at the breath test room at the police station.

It shows Adam Clunes and another policeman leaning over the machine.

The witness said that a policeman breathed into the machine for him and told him where the camera was so they could keep their backs turned to it.

Adam Clunes said the officer told him his dad did not know what happened and to this day, he has not told him the truth.

The PIC has also been investigating another incident in which a drunk corrective services officer was allowed to drive home drunk from Moree Police Station after officers received a call from his boss.

It is alleged David John Webb got out of a drink-driving charge because his boss, John Weavers, was friends with the station inspector Jeffrey Budd.

Senior Constable Phillip Smith has already admitted he did a breath test in Mr Webb's place to record a blood-alcohol reading of zero.

Related:

Police breath test for mates probe
The Police Integrity Commission is investigating whether police officers at Moree and Orange took breath tests for mates, including the son of a fellow police officer, so they would not be charged with drink driving.

Police breath test for mates probe

The Police Integrity Commission is investigating whether police officers at Moree and Orange took breath tests for mates, including the son of a fellow police officer, so they would not be charged with drink driving.

The Commission is looking at two incidents including one at Moree last year in which it will be alleged a man who registered a mid-range reading at a roadside breath test was allowed to skip his second test at the police station and drive home because he worked for Corrective Services.

It will be alleged a police officer did the test for him and registered a blood alcohol reading of zero.

In the second case in Orange last year, the son of a police officer blew a reading of more than 0.02 at a road side random breath test, which is a high range reading. After his father was contacted he was escorted home and someone else did the second test at the police station on his behalf, his reading was officially registered as zero.

Both cases came to the attention of senior police who began the investigation before they were handed over to the Commission.

In his opening address counsel assisting the Commission, David Staehli, said whatever the findings "it is anticipated that there will be shown to be amongst some officers a view of their obligations which is at best inconsistent with their duties as enforcers of the law and at worst plainly criminal".

Updated 3:48pm (AEST)

Officer denies drink-drive corruption claim

The inquiry's has heard that in September last year, Corrective Services officer David John Webb recorded a reading of 0.134 when he was pulled up by police at Moree. It is alleged he got out of the charge after calling his boss, John Arthur Weavers. Mr Weavers told the inquiry he called his friend Jeffrey Budd at the station, but said it was just a courtesy call. In the witness stand, Mr Weavers said he was very drunk at home when Mr Webb called him. He said he cannot remember details, but admitted it is possible he asked Inspector Budd, who is now the duty officer at Tamworth, to do the best he could for Mr Webb. He did not deny suggesting a police officer blow into the bag to record a reading of zero. Mr Webb was later allowed to drive home with a police escort. Mr Webb has also given evidence in which he admitted to buying a policeman a beer after the incident, but denied it was to return the favour. The inquiry continues.

Updated 6:35 (AEST)

Breath tests faked by police

TWO policemen have admitted falsifying a breath analysis so a prison guard from their station could escape a drink-driving charge, alleging senior police and Corrective Services officers gave them "the green light". Senior Constable Phil Smith said the Corrective Services Assistant Superintendent for Moree, John Weavers, called when he heard about Mr Webb's arrest and told him to "get someone else to blow in the bag". Mr Webb was allowed to drive home and Mr Smith blew into the bag to produce a clean result.

Another constable, James Boaden, wrote a false address and occupation on the incident sheet, and falsely quoted Mr Webb as saying "thank goodness" when the reading was done. Mr Smith told Mr Boaden that "if everything does turn to shit, we will just stick to our story". But when he discovered there was an investigation into the incident, "I spoke to Constable Boaden and told him to tell the truth." Mr Smith said he told Mr Webb he was lucky to escape the charge. Mr Boaden told the commission he heard Mr Smith discuss Mr Webb's situation with his superior, Inspector Geoffrey Budd, over the phone. "[Mr Smith told me] we have been given the green light … I was under the impression that a certain course of action was expected from us." When asked whether he believed something improper would follow, he said: "Yes." The hearings continue today.

At least 2yrs' jail for Valentine's killer

A real estate agent who shot his wife's lover dead on Valentine's Day last year has been sentenced to at least two years in jail..

Forty-eight-year-old Tony James Riley killed David Nichols in Gulgong, in central western New South Wales, before turning the gun on himself.

Riley was charged with murder but was convicted of manslaughter after pleading guilty to the lesser charge.

His estranged wife, Katherine Riley, told the Supreme Court she and Mr Nichols ran for their lives as her husband started firing at the house they were in on February 14 last year.

Ms Riley said she later found Mr Nichols lying in a pool of blood on the lawn with two gunshot wounds and clutching a cordless phone.

The court heard the killer was depressed at the time over the affair. The defence lawyer said Riley was so ill, he was unable to control his actions.

The court was told the 48-year-old sustained a permanent brain injury and memory loss when he later tried to kill himself.

Acting Justice Matthews today said Riley was unlikely to reoffend and had already suffered punishment.

He has been sentenced to five years in jail with a non-parole period of two years.