There was publicity on the Pora, Thomas and Bain cases this week. Nothing deliberate, but rather the rare consequences that continue to arise in a country where Miscarriages of Justice are largely mishandled to the extreme.
The week started with the news that Teina Pora was going to the Parole Board for possible release for a crime few, if any New Zealanders now believe he committed. Pora like others before him is disadvantaged in his parole attempt because he hasn't admitted a crime he didn't commit. There is something notably sick, medieval in fact, about that. All that is needed is a trial by fire of some sort as were 'performed' on 'witches' in the dark ages. There is no construction of the case against Pora that shows he should have even been charged. That the real murderer and serial rapist whose DNA was found on the body Susan Burdett is already in prison only adds to the bizarre torture that the state has inflicted upon a young orphan who was encouraged by police, a particularly officer notably, Rutherford, to lie himself into prison believing he was going to get a reward.
It was another now deceased officer, Hutton, at the center of a second controversy this week, when his victim Arthur Allan Thomas called a press conference in the Pukekawa Community Hall where he blasted Deputy Commissioner of Police Mike Bush for speaking out about the integrity of Hutton at his funeral last week in such a manner that it clearly stated that police management, currently investigating the Crewe murders, yet again, believe that Thomas, long since pardoned, is guilty. On a personal note it was great to see the 75 year old farmer speaking publicly about his false imprisonment, few would realise how difficult it was for Thomas to spend 10 years in prison, see his marriage dissolve and being still getting kicked in the teeth 30 years later by a 'progressive' Commissioner with 'no baggage.' The very same man who offered qualifiers that police might have only been speaking about the early years of Hutton's career when saying that he had integrity beyond reproach. Additionally, the Commissioner added that Hutton's family had asked them (police) to attend as though Commissioner Marshall was implying fault with Hutton's family. Mike Bush could have chosen diplomatic language, simply asked his comments not to be published, qualified them in someway - or even pointed out the obvious that it wasn't appropriate for him to speak while an inquiry into the Crewe murders continues. An inquiry Thomas says will be another white wash.
By Thursday the Bain case was back in Court, among pre-hearing matters being discussed was where the substantive hearing should take place. It seems the 'impartial' Minister of Justice is offended beyond extreme and can't digest the idea that Bain wants his case heard in Auckland, the same city in which the Minister lives. Kirsty McDonald represented the Minister pointing out that Bain wasn't 'special' that he'd brought the proceedings and so forth. Well hello, The Minister and her counsel, don't think a person spending 13 years in prison for a crime he was acquitted of isn't 'special.' Judging by the cases above I guess people spending decades of their lives in NZ prisons for crimes they didn't commit isn't 'special' after all. In fact as the 3 cases demonstrate, an all too common event. Pora landlocked for not admitting something he didn't do. Thomas convicted a 'third' time by a Commissioner speaking highly of the officer who was named by a Royal Commission as having planted evidence leaving the conclusion in the air that the farmer was guilty anyway. Bain facing a vindictive and petty reaction from the Minister of Justice for 'daring' to stand up for his rights.
I should say the Pora case is an absolute mess, one demanding to be sorted out immediately and not in the antiquated process of a Petition to the Governor General. I believe his counsel should seek Judicial Review of progress of the Petition, pointing out that justice delayed is justice denied. I note that our highest Judge has previously made comment about the Pora case, one that equally applies to the Bain case, where the accused are liars in everything they say other than that which might incriminate them or be twisted to incriminate them. In the meantime there have been other developments. Details of material released to one of the hate site members we'll call Aunt Fanny show that Aunt Fanny lied in great detail about information claimed to have been given to him by the police. Information which he went onto to fill the blog sphere with as if it were gospel. The Minister of those departments, yes Collins, the same person who despite taking advice by Binnie, was alarmed by knowing more about the case and the Law that an international Jurist, and secretly called for a government 'pet' to do a second report to confirm the Minister's observations - happens to have admitted being a reader of the blogs on which Aunt Fanny published the lies he claimed came from police but without any sanction from the Minister or anyone in her department. All part of the plan no doubt. The same plan that is now confirmed that a 'Minister friendly' media outlet got access to information controlled by the Minister's secretary in record time, and able to scoop a headline. How very convenient. Yet if the Minister was looking for the convenience of a 'friendly' press to deny natural justice to David Bain she should have thought a little deeper because not only was Aunt Fanny making purchase out of misrepresenting released information on a blog which the Minister reads, other things beyond the Minister's imagination were underway, findings that will eventually bite even harder at her credibility because they go to the very heart of the failed case against Bain, possibly more so than at any point earlier - more 'egg on face' for the 'hangbainers' coming.
I've called this a threepeat by virtue that all 3 cases were back in the press for various reasons this week. But the title could have equally applied to the mindset of 'nothing's wrong here keep going' that comes with such cases. Or explanations that time has past and such things would happen 'these days' when in fact it is happening 'these days.' It's happening right now, exposing in the extreme a mindset that hasn't changed since it became obvious Thomas was framed - denials and the apparent hope that things will 'die down' or indeed some of the players in these tragedies will die, is it Justice? - no, a thousand times no.
The country's second most highly ranked police officer is under pressure to retract a funeral eulogy said to attack the integrity of a former Cabinet minister.
ReplyDeleteIn an emailed statement, Mr Bush said the comments were directed at Mr Hutton's family and not the wider community.
"At no time did I make specific reference to the royal commission of inquiry. There was no intention to create the perception that I or NZ Police was challenging the findings of the [inquiry] or the integrity of any individual connected with the inquiry."
However, Mr Bush's comments at the funeral made a direct reference to the Crewe case.
"We all know despite the length and depth of Bruce's term with us in the police, in the public eye he is only associated with one case," he said.
"It is a great tragedy and irony that a man of such great character should have been subject to those accusations."
Is Bush as thick as a sack full of spuds? I think so. But he is not as useful at least you can throw a spud at the wall and split it open without causing the wall any damage.
Police are at present cutting cost and as a consequence mostly non sworn staff are being dumped. If our lousy government wanted to make difference with policing Bush and his ilk should be the first to go. The scum has settled at the top of that outfit that's for sure.
First of all Bush insulted Thomas and The Commissioners now he insults the public by giving a 'second version' of the insult.
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