Brash supports call for independent authority
National Party Leader Don Brash says he supports a call for the establishment of an independent body to identify
miscarriages of justice.
He is commenting on a report by retired High Court judge Sir Thomas Thorp, which suggests that as many as 20 people may
wrongly be incarcerated in New Zealand prisons.
Dr Brash and National MP Katherine Rich supported the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis
Christchurch Civic Creche case in 2003, and attracted support from 11 law professors and two former Prime Ministers for
the inquiry.
“It is cases like the Peter Ellis case that highlight the need for an independent body with the resources and authority
to investigate possible miscarriages of justice.”
According to previously published reports, Sir Thomas Thorp said he also had misgivings about Peter Ellis’ conviction.
“It is critical that the public have complete confidence in our legal system. The Ellis case cast doubt in people’s
minds. An independent authority would take steps towards alleviating the public’s concerns,” says Dr Brash.
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