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The Christchurch Civic
Creche Case |
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The Press Letter to the Editor by Paula Weir, Beckenham With the quashing of David Bain's
conviction for murder coming less than a year after the quashing of the
conviction of Rex Haig for the same, and the still worrying miscarriage of
justice in the Peter Ellis case, I believe it is time our politicians sat up
and took notice of the mistakes that keep recurring in the judicial system
and in case investigations by some of our senior detectives. While the police are upset by
public vilification due to the recent misbehaviour of some of their officers,
the reality is that in many cases the police motto, “without fear or favour”,
is not being upheld. When from the outset police
approach a case with the mindset that the accused is guilty, as appears to be
the norm in rape and murder cases, then miscarriages of justice will keep
occurring. While it is understandable that
the police and the Crown will be repulsed and shocked by the nature of
serious crimes they encounter as part of their job, it is imperative their
emotions do not over take their objectivity. Emotion allows tampering with
evidence and dishonest distortion of witness statements, or so-called
experts' testimony, to acquire convictions in high profile cases with greater
speed, because of pressure from the media and the public. Many falsely accused or convicted
men do not have the high-profile support that David Bain has had, and spend
years and thousands of dollars fighting for justice. To be wrongfully tarred
with the name rapist or murderer and have their families become innocent
victims of police and the Crown's incompetence is unacceptable. |
