Didak Relief At Missing Day In Court

The Age

Friday May 9, 2008

Steve Butcher

COLLINGWOOD'S Alan Didak took a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that brought huge relief to the footballer and his 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 have been 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: Didak was free of any further involvement in a notorious 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, 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.

It is believed Didak declined the chance to play for the Dream Team because of his likely court commitment, one that, in the end, he did not have to keep.

© 2008 The Age

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