Publicity created unfair trial, hostel appeal told

Sensational publicity about a man arrested and charged over a hostel fire in Australia that killed 15 young backpackers - including Limerick woman Julie O'Keeffe - created “universal revulsion” and poisoned any chance he had of a fair trial, his lawyer told an appeal court Tuesday.

Terry Martin, representing Robert Paul Long, told Queensland’s Court of Appeal that there were a number of grounds for the appeal against Long’s murder and arson convictions and life sentence, highlighting that media coverage of the case caused “a substantial risk of prejudice” and led to a miscarriage of justice.