Updated<\/span><\/p>\n9 Jun, 2022 01:45 AM<\/time><\/svg>3 minutes to read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAlan Hall leaving The Supreme Court of New Zealand after his successful appeal. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
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<\/svg><\/button><\/div>\nThe Crown is to be investigated for the role it played in a miscarriage of justice that put an innocent man in prison for 19 years. It took almost four decades for his name to be cleared.<\/p>\n
It was announced today that Solicitor-General Una Jagose has opened an investigation into the Crown’s role in the case surrounding Alan Hall’s now quashed murder conviction.<\/p>\n
Hall, 60, was convicted of the 1985 murder of Papakura man Arthur Easton and the wounding of Easton’s son by jury trial in 1986, and spent a total 19 years behind bars for a crime he never committed.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, after 36 years, Hall walked away from the Supreme Court of New Zealand with a clean slate.<\/p>\n
The Crown admitted there was a severe miscarriage of justice in Hall’s case, and evidence used at trial to convict Hall was “materially altered” with key details omitted.<\/p>\n
The five presiding justices, including Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann, agreed and quashed Hall’s conviction on the spot.<\/p>\n
Justice Winkelmann said the justice system had failed Hall, and so too it had failed the Easton family.<\/p>\n
“So for this reason, the appeal is allowed. Mr Hall’s convictions are quashed and the court will make an order that the verdict acquittal be entered,” Justice Winkelmann said.<\/p>\n
Jagose said there was a significant miscarriage of justice for Hall, and she took that fact seriously.<\/p>\n
“I am determined to find out why and how Mr Hall, Mr Easton, and both their families have been so severely let down by the justice system.<\/p>\n
“My focus now is on understanding how the Crown’s role in this miscarriage occurred and why the criminal justice system failed to remedy it earlier.”<\/p>\n
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Brothers Greg, Geoff and Robert Hall spoke to media after their brother’s decades-long fight for justice ended in a quashed conviction and acquittal. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/svg><\/button><\/div>\nNew Zealanders must have trust and confidence in the justice system, Jagose said, which is why she considers an investigation into the conduct of the prosecution so important.<\/p>\n
“Plainly, as the Crown’s submission to the Supreme Court acknowledges, the criminal justice system has failed in this case,” Jagose said.<\/p>\n
“Mr Hall, Mr Easton’s family, and the public need to understand the factors that led to this miscarriage.<\/p>\n
“Accordingly, I have commenced an independent investigation, to be led by Wellington criminal barrister Nicolette Levy QC, into these events.”<\/p>\n
Geoff Hall, family spokesperson and brother of Alan, said yesterday’s result was a good day for the truth.<\/p>\n
“Yesterday in the Supreme Court, police misconduct, lies, and deception took a royal beating from the truth, honesty and integrity.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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