Police in Gippsland interrogated a suspect by
placing a metal colander on his head and connecting it with
wires to a photocopy machine. The message "He's lying" was
placed in the copier, and police pressed the copy button
each time they thought the suspect wasn't telling the truth.
Believing the "lie detector" was working, the suspect
confessed.
Quote:
Australian arson suspect named
Helen Spowart, Melbourne, 16 Feb 09
Defence lawyer Helen Spowart argued her client was at risk even in custody
A court has lifted a ban on identifying an arson suspect in Australia's deadly bushfires, despite fears of possible retribution attacks by angry residents.
Prosecutors say Brendan Sokaluk deliberately set a fire in Churchill, Victoria, in which 11 people died.
The 39-year-old was not in court to hear the judge lift the suppression order which kept his identity a secret.
At least 189 people are now known to have died in the dozens of bush fires that swept Victoria earlier this month.
Firefighters in the south-eastern state are still battling nine blazes.
Police have warned that the death toll could rise further as officers continue to search through the debris of razed houses for victims.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that a national day of mourning will be held on Sunday for all victims of the bush fires.
Anger and disgust
Mr Sokaluk, a local man from the Gippsland region, is facing charges of arson causing death and of intentionally starting a bushfire.
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