11 May 2007

Bain decision proves case for Criminal Appeals Review Office

The Green Party is renewing the call for an independent Criminal Appeals Review office following the Privy Council quashing of David Bain's convictions for the murder of his family.

"The Privy Council decision vindicates the many people who support David Bain; however it also highlights a much wider problem," Justice Spokesperson Nandor Tanczos says.

"The appellate system is simply incapable of dealing with certain types of cases. This is true in other countries, including England, the United States and Australia. There are a number of structural reasons why this is so that have been well documented overseas.

"Several jurisdictions have introduced some kind of Criminal Appeals Review as a result.

"An independent Criminal Appeals Review Office was recommended by Sir Thomas Thorp in his 2006 report on miscarriages of justice in New Zealand," Nandor says.

"That call was backed by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee when it looked into the petitions calling for an inquiry into the Civic Childcare Centre case.

"Justice Thorp suggested there might be up to 20 people wrongfully imprisoned in New Zealand and while David Bain has had a tremendous success there are a number of other cases which cause disquiet for many New Zealanders.

"It's important that New Zealanders can continue to have confidence in our justice system, and it's vital that the Government implements Sir Thomas Thorps' recommendation."

ENDS

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