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- NATIONAL

Impatient assassin jailed for life
A mother's tender touch ... John Newman's mother, Helen Naumenko, bestows a kiss on a framed photograph of him outside court yesterday. Photo: Andrew Taylor
Phuong Ngo will die in jail. A judge who sentenced him yesterday said "naked political ambition" drove Ngo to order the assassination of Labor MP John Newman. Ellen Connolly reports.

They say patience is a virtue. But back in 1994, Fairfield councillor Phuong Ngo was anything but patient.

One man stood between Ngo and his ambition to become a member of the NSW Parliament. So he masterminded Australia's first political assassination, eliminating

the Labor MP for Cabramatta, John Newman.

Yesterday, seven years after Mr Newman was shot in the driveway of his home, Ngo, 43, was sentenced to life in prison for the "deliberate, premeditated" killing, which Justice John Dunford said was driven by "naked political ambition and impatience".

"He thought he could be of greater service to the community if he was the member for Cabramatta, and quite possibly he could have, but tragically he was impatient and overly ambitious," Justice Dunford told the Supreme Court.

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"He could not wait until the next general election due in 1999; and so he needed to remove John Newman as the sitting member in order that he could run in the preselection ballot which, on the numbers, he had a very good chance of winning."

The judge said that on the day of the murder Ngo had lunch with John Della Bosca, then state secretary of the Labor Party, who indicated he would be favourably considered for a seat.

Justice Dunford said the crime was greatly aggravated because it involved the killing of a member of Parliament for political ends, and was "a direct attack on our system of democratic representative government".

He said "a clear message must be sent that there is no room in this country for killings, violence or intimidation as part of the political process".

Outside court Mr Newman's brother, Peter Naumenko, said he hoped that Ngo would "learn that patience is a virtue".

"He's straight to the upper bunk for doing a stupid act, an impatient act. I hope he learns something from it," he said.

"It's been seven years, two months, nine days. We've been waiting for this day. It's a glorious day. I hope he rots there."

Asked if the Labor Party had been in touch with his family, he said: "We've heard nothing. The Labor Party has been very quiet. They seem to have forgotten it's one of their members. They should be ashamed of themselves. I'm disgusted."

As Ngo was led from the dock yesterday, Mr Newman's mother, Helene Naumenko, stood and held up a framed photograph of her son. Ngo looked across and bowed to her.

Mrs Naumenko kissed the framed photo later, saying: "At last, it's all over. He got what he deserved. The judge was spot on. He done very bad things to my son and now he got what he deserved."

Justice Dunford said Ngo had made three previous attempts to kill Mr Newman, proof of his planning, persistence and determination.

Though Ngo was not the actual gunman, Justice Dunford said he regarded him as the principal offender who had corrupted others to carry out the shooting.

Ngo was found guilty in June of masterminding the murder but the jurors were unable to say who shot Mr Newman and acquitted the alleged gunman and getaway driver.

Tim Anderson joined a group of supporters outside the court for the Campaign Exposing the Frameup of Phuong.

Mr Anderson said the jury had "got it wrong" and an appeal would be launched. "It's shocking someone can be sent to jail for life from flimsy evidence like this," he said. "You haven't heard the end of this case."

Mr Anderson could not say whether there was any new evidence.

Justice Dunford said Ngo had shown no remorse or regret, and there was a risk of him offending again if his commercial or other interests were at stake.

If he had the power he would fix a non-parole period for Ngo, he said. The Government should give consideration to whether the court should have this power.

But the Attorney-General, Bob Debus, said the Government had no intention of making life-sentenced prisoners eligible for parole. Under the truth in sentencing policy, "life means life", he said.

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