Johnson and Knight - false imprisonment.

More on this subject, the recent Sunday night show on this bleak episode of NZ Justice recorded a number of the reasons why the men were compensated. This included video footage of them in a service station at a time which precluded them from having started the fire, that alone shows the corruption of this case and the reveals the number of people who 'look away' from anything disturbing about the nature of the now quashed convictions. Additionally, it was a revealed there was a matter which was being kept confidential that also 'proved' the men's innocence.

Some will recall that the two mothers in this case researched recent arson records for the Foxton area and other relevant information as part of their crusade to have their sons set free. Why there should need to be anything kept secret (and probably an agreement forced upon the young men - if they wanted to be compensated)just adds to concerns that there has been a 'sell off' of some discription - a deal done to prevent the men speaking out on some information they might have. A situation of this nature doesn't restore any confidence, even when putting aside the fact that the OIC of the case remains in the police fold.

I will remind others that when Jaden Knight was standing on the steps of Parliament having received an 'apology' from Simon Power, the poster boy of the Sensible Sentencing Trust and the author of draconian statutes that have 'refined' some of our laws back to the dark ages, he spoke of feeling like being 'bullied' again. What bullying could have happened during the progress of his apology and compensation other than 'having' to agree to not speak out on some matters relevant to the case?

Well, I have two. Either that somebody else has been convicted, charged or admitted in some way responsibility for the Foxton arson. I could be completely wrong, but that is the difficulty when a Government try to extract themselves from a Miscarriage of Justice without full disclosure. Simon Power, who probably cooked his own goose (and hence his surprise announcement of retiring from politics) because of his unhealthy association with Garth McVicar, David Garrett and other crooks who manipulated the public (and John Key) it seems with morbid pleas to the vulnerable by heightening fear - is now seen as the Minister who apologised for matters which were of public record but refusing to do so over matters, necessarily made 'secret' and to be kept from the public.

I'd like to see Jaden Knight or one of the mothers speak out on what 'can't' be disclosed and to hell with the secret agreement. This secret agreement has all the hallmarks of the 2 men being bullied into silence (remember one of them, Johnston - didn't even bother attending Parliament to met the the 'glorious' Minister.) Then we would see if the Government had the temerity to try to enforce their 'insistance' (contract) of silence, that would be another court case against the odds (and fairness and Justice) that the 2 men would win.

The false imprisonment of Jaden Knight and Phillip Johnston.

Much to reflect upon with this case. In some ways deciding where the place to start is as difficult to arrive at as where the finish might be. I wonder what the touch stone might be, and realise that it is 2 mothers. There is a recognised concept that the wheels of justice turn very slowly, that justice is in many ways inert and selfish, that justice has become a law to itself, a preservation of itself over the faults that often make it blind, unable to speak, hear or see.

So if our Minister of Justice takes many years to speak out, apologise over a case that has found its root cause in Police misconduct years ago, then why haven't the Courts spoken sooner, why do they not speak now - in this time when again victims of miscarriages of justice and their families call for the formation of a separate entity to investigate cases such as that of the Foxton arson because of which these 2 men were wrongfully imprisoned - why are the Courts silent? The Courts must see more clearly that members of the public or lay people the mechanics, lies, and fabrications of MOJ but they leave them for the victims to pick a way through an unforgiving an forbiding Justice system that is onerous in it's design.

We all know a Judge can gaol a defendant, a lawyer, a member of the public in a Court room for 'insolence,' swearing, the clothing the wear, for being upset, shouting or cursing - so clearly they can gaol a police officer for contempt when he is giving evidence and clearly lying, or can note on the public record his observations of circumstances that have led an innocent person to Court and imprisoned or charge for an offence on evidence that is false. Unfortunately, the more I think about the role of the Courts in the role of imprisonment it appears equally as unsatisfactory to that of police officers, scientists, or lying witnesses play a role no less than a Judge or panel of Judges who remain unmoved, or unwilling to speak on events, such as the false imprisonment of these 2 men, when it passes before them.

If I'm offended that the OIC that fitted up these 2 men remains in the Police, has never been charged with any crime relating to the MOJ, then why aren't the Courts when the case passes before them? There are no expedients in Justice, only raw, uncompromising truth, the failure of truth in a prosecution is the failure of the entire case - not an opportunity to look for supporting facts elsewhere in a already blemished prosecution. The investigation into these unfortunate men in the overall wash up took minutes, hours, days but unravelling their nightmare has taken years - observed either without concern for the interests of justice and the safety or citizens. Time for the Courts to speak up, not to 'excuse' logic, or 'unfortunate' breaches of investigating and prosecution procedure. Time for the Courts to speak the public mind, to be active when things go wrong and not appear lethargic and system-protecting.

If the Courts don't speak who else will, campaigners such as Joe Karam, Pat Booth, Dr Sprott? (and respect to many others of their kind.) Women such as these two mothers and the mother of Aaron Farmer, who will protest for these good people who, for whatever reason have been disturbed enough over a MOJ to step out from themselves, from their life into the mouth of an indolent beast. Where is the life in our Courts in the people considered to be insightful, sharp, worthy and humble administrators of the truth, make no comment or order when a broken family pass by trying to rescue a son or daughter from a sleeping beast? It isn't right.

To finish on this subject, I wonder why the families needed to go to Parliament to accept their 'apology' when in fact that it is the lawmakers who should be cap in hands, or with fine mats hiding their shame at the door of their victims.