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The Press A lawyer for jailed Canterbury
businessman Peter Maxwell Stewart has filed an appeal against his
convictions. Stewart, 62, was jailed for three
and a half years last month after being convicted on charges of historic
sexual offending against a young girl between 1968 and 1974. His family released a brief
statement today saying the appeal was lodged in the Court of Appeal by lawyer
Paul Davison QC, who has been engaged to lead the case with Jonathan Eaton,
Stewart's defence counsel during the High Court trial. The family's statement said no
comment would be made other than to emphasise that they were "united and
resolute'' in their belief that Stewart was innocent. Stewart, who is from a prominent
Canterbury family, was found guilty of sexually abusing a girl who was aged
between eight and 14. Stewart was aged in his 20s at the time. At the sentencing Mr Eaton sought
a reduced sentence for Stewart's blameless life since, and the public
vilification that had taken place since his conviction on five charges of
indecency, one of rape, and one of sodomy. Eaton indicated immediately after
the trial at the High Court in Christchurch on February 12 that there would
be an appeal. At the same time, the family of
the victim -- now in her 40s -- released a statement saying the conviction
brought some closure for her and those close to her. "Over the past three years
this horrible situation has devastated, disintegrated and destroyed families
and extended families. "It has stretched or ruined
long-term friendships. This is minor to the fact that the victim has lived
with her own hell for most of her life,'' the statement said. Stewart is a son of industrialist
Sir Robertson Stewart, who died in August, aged 93. Sir Robertson founded PDL
Industries, known for its electrical fittings, switch gear and motor control
equipment. Stewart's wife is fashion queen
Pieter Stewart, managing director of New Zealand Fashion Week. The couple have four adult
children and live on a deer farm. |
