Radio NZ
May 26 2008; 08:10

Acquittals happen - Police Assn

The Police Association says it should be remembered the acquittals in the legal system do occur, as calls mount for an inquiry into two high profile cases.

A jury took found Chris Kahui not guilty on Thursday of the murder of his twin baby boys in June 2006.

On Wednesday, a separate jury acquitted George Gwaze in Christchurch of the sexual assault and murder of his niece, aged 10 years.

The Crown Prosecution has referred the Gwaze case to the Solicitor General.

Lawyer Barry Hart says neither case should have gone to court and there should be a Commission of Inquiry.

Mr Hart says he agrees with both verdicts, but it's important that an independent body takes a look at whether anything's gone wrong.

But Police Association vice president Stuart Mills told Morning Report it is not the police themselves who decide if a High Court trial should take place.

He said both cases went through depositions hearings without difficulty, and the cases relied on expert evidence from Crown Solicitors, medical experts and ESR scientists.