Another private prosecution

I heard on the radio that Graham McCready has said he is likely to drop his private prosecution of Trevor Mallard as he believes the dock appearance has damaged him enough.

In the same week, another private prosecution of a Minister (and officials) has been launched – and this one seems less trivial.

Tuariki John Delamere was charged with fraud relating to immigration services in 2005,and earlier this year he was found not guilty on all charges after a four week trial.  The jury took only two hours to deliberate.

Delamere has filed a private prosecution against then Immigration Minister David Cunliffe, and three senior officials,  with a total of 98 charges including blackmail and perjury.

His summary of evidence runs to 34 pages, and there are 114 exhibits.

I have no idea at all about the merits of the case, but it will be interesting to observe.