Jail term the start in hunt for truth
THE mother of Cairns teenager Angela Mealing, who died eight years ago, says the jailing of a former policeman who lied during the investigation is "just the beginning".
Adrian William Deemal, 48, has been sentenced to two years' jail after he was found guilty of perjury for lying during an investigation into Ms Mealing's disappearance.
He pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane District Court.
The 17-year-old was found on a bank of Behana Creek about 30km south of Cairns in 2000 - about six weeks after she disappeared on April 2.
Yesterday, Ms Mealing's mother, Jackie Shadforth, said she would never have closure, despite the sentence.
"I wish it (the sentence) could be longer," she said.
"When you lose a child, you never have closure.
"There are so many lies what he told that I'm going to pursue.
"All I can do is make those people who hurt her that night, to be charged."
In June 2000, Deemal gave evidence to a Queensland Crime Commission hearing and said he gave Ms Mealing a lift from Cairns south to Gordonvale on the morning she was reported missing.
Deemal told the hearing he had turned left into Riverstone Rd from the Bruce Highway and dropped Ms Mealing off about 100m from the intersection on April 2.
But the prosecution in the Brisbane District Court argued Deemal lied about his movements.
Prosecutor Brad Farr, SC, said security footage from a nearby service station did not show Deemal's car making the turn he claimed he made.
An inquest in 2002 heard the teenager was assaulted twice on the night she disappeared by a group of girls at Mooroobool and later by her boyfriend at Earlville.
Ms Shadforth yesterday she would rest "for a while" before continuing her battle for justice.
"Everyone who laid a hand on Angie, I won't give up," she said.
"I cannot replace her. I will always have a broken heart.
"All my life I've been able to fix things. But I can't fix nothing. I can't bring her back to me," she said.
Deemal's sentence will be suspended after a year.
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