Last night, Mr Smith told Nine News that money was one of the reasons he and Mr Gladman were given for the decision not to proceed. He said it was suggested that because Milne and teammate Montagna could afford top lawyers, "it would cost the department a lot of money" if the prosecution failed.
Today the Opposition Crime Prevention spokesman Andrew McIntosh said the apparent excuse did not wash.
I would have thought that the sole consideration should be whether or not there is a case to answer,'' Mr McIntosh told MTR radio.
It would be very rare for costs be awarded against the Crown in a jury trial.
I'm just concerned that it may be a false claim as a justification ... the issue of costs should not be a consideration the prosecution should take into account.''
Mr McIntosh said Victoria's ramshackle mechanism to fight corruption is a matter of profound concern with Victoria Police lurching from one disaster to another.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/investigator-alleges-that-costs-a-factor-when-milne-rape-case-dropped/story-e6frf7jo-1225882983027