The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case |
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National Party Leader
Don Brash says he supports a call for the establishment of an independent
body to identify miscarriages of justice. He is commenting on a
report by retired High Court judge Sir Thomas Thorp, which suggests that as
many as 20 people may wrongly be incarcerated in New Zealand prisons. Dr Brash and National
MP Katherine Rich supported the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into
the Peter Ellis Christchurch Civic Creche case in 2003, and attracted support
from 11 law professors and two former Prime Ministers for the inquiry. “It is cases like the
Peter Ellis case that highlight the need for an independent body with the
resources and authority to investigate possible miscarriages of justice.” According to previously
published reports, Sir Thomas Thorp said he also had misgivings about Peter
Ellis’ conviction. “It is critical that
the public have complete confidence in our legal system. The Ellis case cast
doubt in people’s minds. An independent authority would take steps towards
alleviating the public’s concerns,” says Dr Brash. |