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Waikato Times
May 12, 1997
Police waste their time on Bain review
Editorial
The police decision to review their handling
of the Bain murder inquiry will be a waste of time and money. David Bain has
already unsuccessfully challenged his conviction of the 1994 murders of his
father, mother, brother and two sisters at the Appeal Court and Privy Council. The
case against him stands. The announcement last week of the so-called
"independent review" will achieve nothing but predictably vindicate
a few thin-skinned officers. It will be headed by one of the country's top
cops, assistant commissioner Brion Duncan, and is designed solely to put to
rest rumours and speculation -- fed by Joe Karam's new book David and Goliath
-- that the police got it wrong.
The review has more to do with public relations than justice or the pursuit
of truth.
The only reason for having another look at the case against Bain would be if
new evidence came to light. That hasn't happened. If significant new
information did emerge, a policeman -- even one as respected as Mr Duncan --
should be last person put in charge of the investigation into the
investigation. A retired judge or QC would be more appropriate.
Mr Karam has been a skilful champion of Bain, but has fallen well short of
proving his theory that Robin Bain killed the four others before shooting
himself and sparing David. What Mr Karam has manipulated is the public's
growing awareness that the police are occasionally capable of grave error and
unforgivable conduct.
Detective Brent Garner's faked Satanic attack against himself last year is
one relatively minor source of that concern. More serious were bungled
investigations of Janine Law's death in 1987 and Agnes Alli'iva'a in 1992. In
both cases the women were found bruised, semi-clothed and with signs of
sexual molestation. Yet police at first inexplicably ruled out foul play.
Then there was also the case of Hamilton
student Nick Wills who in 1995 was charged with rape because police failed to
do something as basic as check his alibi. Taupiri farmer Arthur Allan Thomas,
pardoned for the Crewe murders in 1979, is
still extremely bitter about the way police manufactured a case against him.
Last week he spoke in support of David Bain. Mr Thomas is also advising David
Dougherty to seek compensation for three years he spent in jail for a rape he
didn't commit.
There are other problems. Officers are quitting in high numbers, robbing the
force of expertise and experience. Also, Treasury wants to shave millions of
dollars off the police budget while in Waikato,
they can't even guarantee 111 emergency calls will be answered.
New Zealand
police are not corrupt and still largely do a sound job. But the public
demands more. Officers now have to strive to earn the public's confidence
every day and on every case they handle. The police also have to introduce
new technology effectively, manage their budgets better, retain key staff,
recruit the right people and guard against the type of arrogance and
complacency that puts innocent people in jail and allows crimes to go
unpunished.
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