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Focus on
Police Competence |
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A Queen's Counsel has
been asked to advise the Government on compensation for three girls who were
wrongly jailed for robbery in 1999. Justice Minister Phil
Goff said yesterday that Kirsty McDonald, QC, would give independent advice
on whether the girls should receive a payout, and if so, how much. Lucy Akatere and Tania
Vini, both 17, and Krishla Fuataha, 16, have said they are tiring of their
long wait for compensation. The trio spent seven
months in Mt Eden Women's Prison after being convicted for an aggravated
robbery in 1999. They argued that they
were nowhere near the scene of the crime in the Auckland suburb of Three
Kings. A witness later said she gave false evidence under police pressure. Police apologised after
the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions last October but the girls'
lawyers are seeking compensation. Mr Goff said yesterday
that he had received a preliminary application for compensation, and had
appointed Ms McDonald. Her advice would take
into account the conduct of police and other Crown agencies. The teenagers
would have the chance to make submissions. Mr Goff said Ms
McDonald had been asked to complete the report "as quickly as
possible". A lawyer acting for the
teenagers, Gary Gotlieb, said they had missed out on schooling and suffered
mentally from being jailed. He spoke yesterday of
drinking problems among the teenagers, of their being unable to sleep with
closed doors, and of their need for psychiatric help. Police have finished an
internal investigation into the case. Spokeswoman Sarah Martin said it was
yet to be decided whether this report would be released. |
