Andrew LITTLE
Justice Spokesperson
Kris FAAFOI
Police Spokesperson
31 August 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
Police must step back from Arthur Allan Thomas case
News that police have been interviewing Arthur Allan Thomas and his family over alibis for the 1970 Crewe murders is an
outrage and shows contempt for the judicial processes that exonerated him more than 30 years ago, say Labour MPs Andrew
Little and Kris Faafoi.
News today states that police have been interviewing Mr Thomas, including seizing a firearm, in relation to the Crewe
murders. This followed an undertaking by the police three years ago to "review and analyse" the file after a call from
the Crewes' surviving daughter, Rochelle.
"Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Bush’s description of Bruce Hutton as a person of integrity, and now their interviewing
of Arthur Thomas, suggests the police have never accepted they got it wrong," Labour's Police spokesperson Kris Faafoi
says.
"Clearly interviewing Mr Thomas and his family goes well beyond a review of the file. It suggests police have other
intentions."
Labour's Justice spokesperson Andrew Little said the police should not be investigating Arthur Allan Thomas any more.
"The police cannot bring an unbiased and disinterested view to this case any more and should not be involved in it.
"This is yet another reason why we need a truly independent body such as a Criminal Cases Review Commission to handle
cases like this,” Andrew Little said.
ENDS