Justice at last for Teina Pora and his whānau

The Māori Party says today is a great day for Teina Pora and those of his family who stood by him.

“After more than twenty years of believing in Teina’s innocence, we know his whānau will be celebrating the clearing of his name”, says Māori Party Co-leader Hon Te Ururoa Flavell.

In 1994, Teina Pora was convicted and jailed for the rape and murder of Susan Burdett. While Pora was released on parole last year, the Privy Council decision in London upholds the appeal to quash his conviction.

The Māori Party supported Teina and his whānau when questions were asked about the case.

It exhausted all political avenues in a bid to get an urgent inquiry in to the case and Teina Pora pardoned.

“We congratulate Pora’s legal team for persevering with bringing this case to its rightful conclusion,” says Mr Flavell.

Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox says the Māori Party would like to see an independent body such as a commission to consider allegations of wrongful convictions.

“The Teina Pora case is another example of how convoluted, expensive and difficult it is to have injustices like this rectified. We believe it should this case should have been settled years ago,” says Mrs Fox.

She also acknowledges that the Privy Council decision gives cold comfort to the Burdett family.

“Our aroha goes out to the Burdett family who have had to constantly relive her horrific death over and over again.

"We support the call by her brother for the case to be re-opened, in order to bring justice to the Burdett family over the loss of their loved one.”

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