A former police officer told a friend who would give police key evidence in the investigation of Canberra police chief Colin Winchester's death that what he had seen may be significant, a murder trial heard Tuesday.
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But Peter Scotland denied that he was mindful of criticism of police in the media at the time, for being unable to solve the death of the assistant commissioner from more than three years ago.
Mr Scotland knew Raymond Webb, a Telecom employee, through the AFP fishing club, and the two would regularly go to meetings and competitions together, the court heard.
In late 1992, before one weekend fishing competition at Lake Eucumbene, Mr Scotland said Mr Webb came to him and said he had something on his mind.
The court heard Mr Webb told Mr Scotland that he had gone to buy a rifle from Louis Klarenbeek in Queanbeyan late in December 1988.
When leaving the Klarenbeek home that day, Mr Webb said he ran into another man entering the property that he recognised as David Eastman.
Prosecutors allege Mr Eastman bought a Ruger 10/22 from Mr Klarenbeek and later used it to fire two bullets into Mr Winchester's head as he sat in his car in Deakin.
Mr Eastman, 72, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
In Mr Scotland's statement from November 1992, a portion of which he read to the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday, the former officer said he asked Mr Webb if he was sure it was Mr Eastman.
He said Mr Webb replied "absolutely sure".
He said Mr Webb told him he had not come forward earlier because he was worried about the safety of his wife and children.
Mr Scotland said he told Mr Webb to speak to investigators on the case and he would put him in touch.
The court on Monday heard it took Mr Webb four years to come forward with the information about what he'd seen, and that he had initially lied to police and the court, by saying he had not seen anyone else there.
On Tuesday, Mr Scotland agreed under cross-examination that at around the time he was approached by Mr Webb, he was aware of criticism of the police for being unable to solve the killing of Mr Winchester.
But he denied he was mindful of the criticism when Mr Webb spoke to him that day.
Mr Scotland did agree while being questioned by defence barrister George Georgiou SC that he would have reiterated to Mr Webb that Mr Eastman was a suspect in the murder of Mr Winchester on January 10, 1989.
He agreed too in response to the silk's suggestions that he would’ve told Mr Webb the evidence was important, and possibly told him it was important to link Mr Eastman to the Klarenbeek Ruger.
The trial continues.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the year Mr Webb attended the Klarenbeek Home. It was December 1988, not December 1989.
