NSW: Ngo agrees to a history of political clashes with Newman

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2009
NSW: Ngo agrees to a history of political clashes with Newman

SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - Phuong Ngo has agreed he had a history of political clashes with
the NSW MP he was convicted of murdering in 1994.

On Tuesday, the former Fairfield City councillor was taken through numerous newspaper
articles and other documents, which included strong criticism of him by NSW MP John Newman.

"We have had disagreements, differences, on many occasions on political issues," Ngo
told the Sydney judicial inquiry into his conviction.

Ngo is serving a life term after being convicted in 2001 of ordering the assassination
of Mr Newman, who was gunned down outside his Sydney home in 1994.

Ngo said he first met him in 1987, when Mr Newman was handing out how-to-vote leaflets
supporting ALP candidates at the council elections where Ngo was standing as an independent.

Donna Woodburne SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, took Ngo through numerous
documents, including a letter sent by the councillor's solicitors threatening legal action
against Mr Newman over the circulation of a forged open letter, purportedly from the Vietnamese
community.

Mr Ngo agreed he believed the letter was defamatory of him, and included claims that
he protected organised gangs and had abandoned the needs of local Vietnamese residents.

Other media reports included Mr Newman complaining about Mr Ngo's involvement in the
building of a Chinese arch gate in Cabramatta and the building of the Mekong Club in the
area.

The hearing is continuing.

AAP mss/pbc/hn/jfm

KEYWORD: NGO

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