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The police officer son of former NSW premier and senator Kristina Keneally has been found guilty of fabricating evidence that wrongfully put a man in prison.<\/p>\n
Daniel Keneally, 25, was convicted in the Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
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Daniel Keneally leaves Downing Centre Local Court.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Louise Kennerley <\/cite><\/p>\n Keneally wrote a statement containing many falsehoods and rejected his lawyer\u2019s claims that it was an honest mistake, magistrate Rodney Brender found.<\/p>\n The offence related to an incident where Keneally was a few hours into a night shift at Newtown police station when Luke Brett Moore called in February 2021.<\/p>\n Keneally\u2019s written statement, which he told the court he felt pressured to make after talking to higher-ranking officers, resulted in Moore being arrested and held in custody for three weeks.<\/p>\n The activist and founder of ISuepolice was later released on bail and the charge dropped, due to a recording of the conversation made on his phone.<\/p>\n Daniel Keneally pictured with his mother Kristina Keneally.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Twitter<\/cite><\/p>\n The recording, taken without Keneally\u2019s knowledge, showed significant discrepancies to what was in the officer\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n These included Keneally naming a police officer he alleged Moore threatened to kill, which had not occurred.<\/p>\n The magistrate said the conversation as recorded by Keneally in his statement \u201cjust didn\u2019t happen\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no basis to suggest any other person suggested the content or affected (Keneally\u2019s) memory,\u201d Brender said.<\/p>\n The magistrate found Keneally knew it was a real possibility that evidence of a threat to a policeman could lead to a prosecution.<\/p>\n Keneally also knew his statement could be used in any court proceedings and would mislead relevant tribunals, the magistrate said.<\/p>\n Keneally will remain on bail to be sentenced on December 21.<\/p>\n Outside court, Keneally\u2019s lawyer Paul McGirr said his client \u201cholds his head high\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe respect the court\u2019s decision but can say we will definitely appeal on the basis that my client never wilfully put something in a statement that he knew to be false,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very high hurdle for the prosecution to prove.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n