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Teina Pora to seek compensation

Author
Felix Marwick ,
Publish Date
Fri, 17 Apr 2015, 9:09AM
Teina Pora (NZ Herald)
Teina Pora (NZ Herald)

Teina Pora to seek compensation

Author
Felix Marwick ,
Publish Date
Fri, 17 Apr 2015, 9:09AM

UPDATED 4.42PM: The Justice Minister is being told to fast-track the handling of Teina Pora's compensation claim.

The Government's facing another high profile compensation claim for wrongful imprisonment.

It's already considering an application from David Bain, now Auckland man Teina Pora is  doing the same after the quashing of his conviction for the murder of Susan Burdett.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says she's received a letter from Mr Pora's lawyers formally notifying her of the claim.

She says she'll see preliminary advice from justice officials on the next steps, and they will assess whether the claim merits further consideration.

Mr Pora was convicted of the rape and murder of Susan Burdett, and served more than 21 years in prison before the Privy Council quashed his conviction in March. He will not be retried.

Ms Adams said as a retrial was not ordered, the application was within Cabinet guidelines for compensation.

"Officials will assess whether the claim merits further consideration and, if so, provide me with advice on appointing a QC or retired judge to determine whether the applicant can prove they are innocent on the balance of probabilities."

Maori Party Co-Leader Marama Fox says the government should move extremely quickly to deal with Pora's compensation bid.

"The Government should move with haste to ensure that the issue of compensation is addressed and in a timely fashion. He doesn't need to waste anymore of his life going through long, lengthy court battles."

Auckland University law expert Bill Hodge says getting compensation isn't easy.

"There are cabinet guidelines and while at the end of the process it might be a lot of money, they've got a lot of hurdles to get through first."

Hodge says the lawyers need to prove extraordinary circumstances and they need to prove it beyond reasonable doubt.

"They need to explain away why the police were wrong to accept a confession."

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