sport news 'The Smiling Assassin' Khalid Baker takes giant leap forward in bid to clear ... trends now
A teen who admitted to killing a man but was acquitted of his murder has been ordered to front court and confess under oath.
Khalid Baker was on the verge of becoming a national hero in 2005 when was charged with the murder of Perth man Albert Dudley Snowball.
Known as 'The Smiling Assassin' in Melbourne's western suburbs where he grew up, the then 18-year old's mate, who cannot be named for legal reasons, long maintained it had been him alone who caused Mr Snowball's death.
On Monday, the Supreme Court of Victoria ordered Baker's mate enter the witness box and repeat what he has already publicly claimed over the events of that night.
Khalid Baker is back in the ring after spending 13 years in jail for a crime another man says he committed
Baker and Melbourne television identity Eddie McGuire after Baker was released from jail
On May 26, 2008 Baker was convicted of Mr Snowball's murder and sentenced to 17 years in jail with a non-parole period of 12 years.
The 22-year old had been unfortunate to have got into a scuffle with Baker's mate at a party in trendy Brunswick.
He fell four metres after being shoved through a window and died in hospital two days later from head injuries.
Baker spent 13 years in prison before he was released in 2018.
He has since maintained his innocence, launching unsuccessful appeals with the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2010 and the High Court in 2012.
In May, Baker brought on another appeal in the Supreme Court of Victoria on the basis of 'fresh and compelling evidence' that it was his co-accused whose actions alone caused the death of Mr Snowball.
Baker had hoped 'LM', as he is required to be known under the law, would willingly attend court to admit to the crime, clearing Baker's name once and for all.
Baker's mate had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter, but the offer was rejected by prosecutors at the time because Baker refused to do likewise.
Baker's version of events had been supported by three eye witnesses at trial, who claimed he 'wasn’t even near them when it happened'.
The young boxer had in fact been 'down on the next level getting held back by other people', a witness claimed.
Khalid Baker with Faruk Orman, who was acquitted of murder and released from jail because of the Nicola Gobbo scandal
Baker is determined to clear his name after spending 13 years behind bars
The witnesses that supported Baker had all been 'black', with LMs barrister urging the jury to find that ‘the white witnesses’ were ‘witnesses of truth'.
The jury was told the evidence of ‘the black witnesses’ was either ‘dishonest … or evasive.’
LM pleaded not guilty to murder and was acquitted by a jury.
While he could not be compelled to give evidence at Baker's initial trial, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled he can be now.
The court heard LM could fall foul of Victoria's double jeopardy laws by confessing in open court to the crime.
The law, which once stated that no one should be tried or punished twice for the same offence, was reformed in 2011, opening the gateway for fresh trials to be ordered where there is
