A key detail missing

Phil Taylor at NZ Herald reports:

Teina Pora makes his 11th appearance before the Parole Board today – and this time he wants out.

Pora is serving a life sentence for a 1992 rape and murder which several police who worked on the case believe was committed solely by serial stalker rapist Malcolm Rewa.

Pora has maintained he had nothing to do with it since he was charged in March 1993 and is seeking a royal prerogative of mercy from the Governor-General.

That sentence is rather deceptive. It misses out the fact that he told the Police he held Burdett down by the arms while others raped her. This is hardly maintaining he had nothing to do with it.

Now of course there is great controversy over whether his confession is true or not. There is significant doubt over the confession, and it could well be false – and that Pora is innocent.

But what I object to is a story that doesn’t even mention his confession. That is not giving the public the full story.

I’ve read a fair bit on this case. I think there is more than reasonable doubt that Pora killed Burdett. It is a pity he may have lied to the Police in order to get a reward.

I’ve supported for some years the idea of an Innocence Commission that could investigate potential miscarriages of justice with cases such as this and Peter Ellis.