Former police firearms examiner Orlando Vera lost his appeal today, and will have to serve his two year sentence in prison.
In a 43 page judgement handed down today, Justice Herbert Lord dismissed the appeal of the Magistrates Court decision to convict him for abetment to pervert the course of justice.
His attorney, Anthony Sylvestre, had argued that the sentence was harsh and excessive and that a fine would have been more appropriate. Justice Lord said that the sentence could have been up to 5 years and he cannot agree with the appellant's counsel that a fine would have been more adequate given the circumstances of the trial and the harm to the justice system.
Vera got into trouble when he approached a Micheal Modiri - who was accused of a firearm offence. Vera suggested to him that he could have him free of the charges. Modiri recorded the conversation and that was presented as evidence at the trial.
