Labour may escape prosecution

This will be an outrage if they get away with it, but Labour is claiming if they are not charged by the end of tomorrow (over their $400,000+ of over-spending) they are home free because a prosecution has to occur within six months of the offence and it has been six months since the election.

Lawyers, according to NZPA, say it is not clear when you count the six months from. There are three main possibilities:

1) From when the pledge cards were ordered (July)

2) From the date of the election (17 Sep)

3) From when election returns were submitted (January)

If the Police and Crown Law come out saying oh yes they broke the law in our opinion, but it is too late to prosecute – then heads should roll for their slowness.

Unless the Police are sure that time will not expire tomorrow, they should lay charges immediately to ensure a prosecution can go ahead.