Witness tampeering?

The Herald reports:

A domestic violence case against an Auckland doctor has been thrown out of court after it emerged the complainant’s father paid Crown witnesses.

The health professional, in his 40s, came before Auckland District Court yesterday but minutes before his trial was due to start, the Crown told Judge Rob Ronayne about the revelations that had become apparent over the weekend.

Prosecutor Kate Lawson-Bradshaw acknowledged the alleged victim’s father had made payments to people who were going to give evidence for the Crown that day.

Shortly afterwards, the charge of assault was dismissed and the defendant walked away a free man.

With the allegation of violence from his estranged wife hanging over him for nearly two years, the man told the Herald of his relief that the ordeal was finally over.

“It was a trauma, man … I’ve not done anything wrong,” he said.

The doctor said defending the case had left him penniless and he claimed in contrast his father-in-law was a millionaire.

Now the man who allegedly paid the witnesses could be the one who ends up in the dock.

It sounds like he should, unless the payments are entirely innocent.

Despite the claims of domestic violence and the fact his former partner went straight to the Medical Council to tell officials what had happened, the doctor refused to hold a grudge.

“She’s still my wife and I don’t want to harm her,” he said. “Then there would be no difference between me and them.”

A remarkable attitude.

The doctor’s wife said she needed “time to absorb all this”.

Her father could not be reached and she refused to pass on his contact details, saying the case was nothing to do with him.

Not so sure about that!