Didak Relief In Court Twist
The Age
Friday May 9, 2008
COLLINGWOOD'S Alan Didak took a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that brought huge relief to the footballer and his AFL club.
Former Victoria Police detective and now barrister Tony Burns rang Didak to tell him he would not have to give evidence against former Hells Angel Christopher Hudson. The word was that Hudson would be pleading guilty to a firearms offence.Didak, 25, was to be the first witness yesterday at Hudson's planned contested committal hearing. He had confirmed to prosecutors that he would give evidence consistent with his sworn statements to police.It can also be revealed that Didak last year supplied a saliva swab, which cleared him after unidentified DNA was found on a weapon during investigations.The club's relief at Hudson's plea was twofold; one of its best players was free of any further involvement in a notorious criminal case, but it also ended an action by Hudson's lawyers for access to club documents.His solicitor, Theo Magazis, in preparing to have Didak cross-examined in court, had recently issued a subpoena for club chief executive Gary Pert to produce Didak's player contracts - old and new. Mr Pert was also asked to produce the club's player code of conduct, but Hudson's guilty plea yesterday voided the subpoena.Mr Burns was briefed by the club to oppose the release of Didak's contracts and to assist him at court.
© 2008 The Age
