VIC: Abbott associate asks judge for leniency

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-1999
VIC: Abbott associate asks judge for leniency

BRENDAN BERICHON, an associate of prison escapee BRENDON ABBOTT, has asked a judge for a
lenient sentence over his conviction for attempting to murder two plain clothes police
officers.

AARON SCHWARTZ for BRENDAN BERICHON, aged 21, told the Victorian Supreme Court his client
had been bashed by a violent step-father, and turned to drugs and alcohol from an early age.

Mr SCHWARTZ said that led to a life of petty crime, heroin use and alcohol abuse in
BERICHON's teenage years.

BERICHON was convicted by a jury in June for the attempted murder of Senior Constable PETER
BALTAS and Sergeant SCOTT ROBERTS, who were both wounded from shots fired by BERICHON.

The officers had been on drugs patrol in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill on April 20 last
year at the time of shootings.

The plea for leniency is continuing, although Justice DAVID HARPER is not expected to pass
sentence today.

AAP RTV gf/jlw/jn

KEYWORD: BERICHON (MELBOURNE)

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