Disgraced former Federal Court justice, Marcus Einfeld, has engaged a flim flam man for his departure from Silverwater jail in Sydney’s west tomorrow morning.
As Einfeld spends his final day in prison greens, PR honcho Grant Vandenberg is attempting to orchestrate coverage of the former QC’s exit from the grounds of the Silverwater complex.
Einfeld, 72, is being released after serving two years of a three-year sentence for perjury and perverting the course of justice over a $77 speeding ticket.
Vandenberg has been calling media outlets saying he is co-ordinating the event as a “friend” of Einfeld’s family.
Vandenberg was also on hand as jockey Chris Munce’s “manager” when Munce was released from Silverwater in October 2008 after serving time for his involvement in a Hong Kong race for bets scandal.
Met by the PR man and a security man about twice the size of the diminutive Munce, the jockey was coached by Vandenberg to say nothing to waiting reporters and be driven off by the security man to see his family before Vandenberg held a media conference later that day.
Einfeld is expected to remain silent as he walks from prison tomorrow, saving his words for a magazine and television interview deal brokered by Vandenberg.
Einfeld’s prison sentence arose from his contesting, in August 2007, a speeding ticket, which he claimed had been driven by an old friend, professor Teresa Brennan, when it was caught on a speed camera.
It was later revealed that Einfield had been aware that professor Brennan was killed in a car accident in the United States in 2003.
Einfeld pleaded guilty to perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice just before he was due to go to trial in October 2008 and was subsequently sentenced to three years prison with a non-parole period of two years.
Einfeld was moved to Silverwater from Long Bay, where he resided in a prison wing with anorexic Swedish model Charlotte Lindstrom and former NSW Crime Commission investigator Mark Standen, who is currently standing trial for alleged drug importation.
During his incarceration, Einfeld relinquished his Order of Australia and agreed to give up his commission as a Queen’s Counsel and to step down from the NSW Bar Association.
After release, he will report to a parole officer for the next 12 months.
You might also remember he tried to get a reduction or release for a “bipolar disorder made me do it” plea.
Where is Markson when you need him?
Leave the man alone. He has served his sentence, and this bit of catty nonsense is not fit for news. Let she who is not without misdemeanours cast the first stone.
Thanks Candace. Like Margot Saville you write about some juicy topics of NSW political interest which Crikey has abeen a bit light on. However I just want to say I heard ME on abc radio the next day, while slumming it here down at Bleak City. So his instincts to share were still good.
Actually the weather was very good, the traffic humane, the old school chums generally well and in good spirits. We gave 3 cheers for Brendan Keilar, not ever forgotten, in our life times, all the while realistic about the little big man we knew.
In Sydney I predict the general public will think ME did his time and time to move on. They like to see a big name fall but they don’t seem particularly sadistic with a heel on a bloke’s neck when he is on the floor. Get over it might be more the gig. Maybe it’s a convict mentality from way back. I think he will get some breathing space and a walk in the sand to himself.