Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2001
Excerpt from report by Karen Howard
As governor-general, Sir Michael has had the unenviable task of considering
applications from convicted criminals seeking royal pardons.
Cases which have come before him include those of convicted paedophile Peter
Ellis and David Bain, convicted of murdering his family.
What most people don't understand is that decisions about such applications are
effectively made by cabinet, he says.
"All the applications go to the minister of justice who sets a team of
lawyers and investigators to look into them and write a report. It comes to me
with a recommendation.
"Now and again I've said, `Look, I'd like to know a little bit more about
this and what about so and so'."
In every case Sir Michael was happy with the form that it came back to him in
and says he hasn't differed from the conclusion.
Sir Michael believes publicity is causing more and more people to test their
verdicts.
"People in jail are learning, `Oh we can do this - it might be worth
trying'."
But he maintains the system works well.
Another case which came before the Governor-General in 1996 was that of
convicted rapist David Dougherty whose case was referred back to the appeal
court for a retrial, resulting in his acquittal.
"That showed the system . . . is open to people to show they've had an
injustice done."