Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Justice
Media Statement
11 July 2001
Compensation payment for David Dougherty
Justice Minister Phil Goff announced today that Cabinet has accepted a recommendation that $868,728.80 be paid to David
Dougherty as compensation for his conviction and more than three years imprisonment for a crime he did not commit.
"David Dougherty was convicted in 1993 for abduction and rape of an 11-year-old girl. He was subsequently acquitted on
retrial in 1997 when it was found that DNA evidence left on the girl's clothing could not have come from Mr Dougherty
but belonged to another man.
"Stuart Grieve QC was commissioned to assess Mr Dougherty's eligibility in accordance with the interim criteria
established in 1997. Mr Grieve confirmed that Mr Dougherty was innocent of the charges and recommended that $868,728.80
should be paid to compensate for the losses and suffering incurred because of a wrongful conviction.
"The Government acknowledges the wrong done to Mr Dougherty and what he suffered as a consequence.
"Pecuniary losses were assessed by Mr Grieve as $168,728.80 in lost income and the legal and other costs incurred by his
conviction.
"Non-pecuniary losses including loss of liberty, loss of reputation, loss or interruption of family and other personal
relationships and mental and emotional harm were assessed at $700,000.
"Calculations of this sum took into account that no aspect of the investigations carried out by the Police and ESR could
be regarded as aggravating or contributing to the wrongful conviction and detention of Mr Dougherty. The convictions
were the result of the mistaken identification of Mr Dougherty by the complainant.
"The amount payable was also reduced to take account of Mr Dougherty's previous convictions and imprisonment in line
with New Zealand case law on false imprisonment. It should be noted however that the offences for which he had
previously been convicted were less serious and did not involve sexual or violent offending.
"We are fortunate in New Zealand that by and large we enjoy a criminal justice system which operates fairly and
effectively.
"However, mistakes are possible in any system which relies on human judgement. When such mistakes are made and result in
wrongful imprisonment, it is our responsibility as a society to acknowledge that wrong and to endeavour to set things
right including by payment of fair compensation.
"I acknowledge and apologise to Mr Dougherty for the wrong done to him. Mr Dougherty was entirely innocent of the crime
for which he was convicted and imprisoned. The payment made to him is a practical expression of society's obligation to
make up for what he lost and what he has suffered.
"There is however, no simple answer as to how much compensation should be paid for wrongful conviction and imprisonment.
"On one hand the impact on a persons life is traumatic and cannot be minimised. At the same time, it is important to
remember that others adversely affected by the criminal justice system such as those acquitted of offences, and victims
frequently receive no compensation at all. The additional guidelines which will apply in future aim to strike an
appropriate balance and give some certainty about the amounts which will be awarded as compensation for wrongful
conviction.
"Such payments will be in line with previous court decisions and are likely to be less generous than the two cases
recently decided.
"Payment of the compensation will be conditional on this being in full settlement of any claims arising out of Mr
Dougherty's wrongful conviction and imprisonment," Mr Goff said.
The Minister will publicly release Mr Grieve's report once the Ministry of Justice has made any deletions necessary due
to privacy considerations. This process is expected to be completed by next week.
ENDS