Otago Daily Times
December 11, 2001

Independent tribunal urged
NZPA


Wellington: Justice Minister Phil Goff should establish an independent body to consider claims of wrongful conviction from convicted offenders such as Peter Ellis, David Bain and Rex Haig, a leading lawyer said yesterday.

The call came from Nigel Hampton QC, who lodged his second bid for a pardon for Haig with the Governor-General.

Haig is serving a life sentence for the murder of Riverton fisherman Mark Roderique at Jackson Bay, South Westland, in February 1994.

Haig has maintained his innocence, unsuccessfully appealing in 1996, and in 1997 taking part in a hostage siege at Christchurch's Paparua Prison to seek support for his plight. His first unsuccessful petition for a pardon was lodged in 1999.

The latest petition raises questions about evidence given by David Hogan and Tony Sewell, who worked with Haig and who received immunity from prosecution.

The petition includes a 100-page report from former police superintendent turned private investigator Bryan Rowe, the man who recently helped free three Auckland teenagers wrongly convicted of aggravated robbery.

Mr Hampton said Haig's first bid had not been subject to any independent audit or review. It had been considered internally by Justice Ministry officials and given a "cursory" appraisal by John Billington QC.

"We need someone completely outside the system to review cases like Ellis', Bain's and Haig's independently," Mr Hampton said.

The only precedent in New Zealand was the Arthur Allan Thomas case, where a retired New South Wales Supreme Court judge was employed.

Bain supporter Joe Karam said it was essential pardon bids were considered by people independent from the ministry.

Mr Karam said England had set up an independent group with 12 members and 100 investigators to consider claims of miscarriage of justice.

"That's what we need here. The public is sick of it [the current situation], whatever Mr Goff thinks," he said.

A spokesman for Mr Goff said he could not comment on the issue until he had received the petition.