26 May 2023

Crown Law cleared of mistakes in wrongful conviction

From Morning Report, 7:20 am on 26 May 2023
Alan Hall's brothers Greg, Geoff and Robert speak outside the Supreme Court.

Alan Hall's brothers Greg, Geoff and Robert speak outside the Supreme Court. Photo: RNZ

An independent report has cleared Crown Law of any wrongdoing despite it failing to act on evidence of Alan Hall's innocence four years ago.

The Supreme Court last year cleared Mr Hall of the 1985 murder of Arthur Easton and declared a miscarriage of justice.

In 2018, journalist Mike Wesley-Smith provided Crown Law with new information showing a key witness statement was changed.

In a heavily redacted report, Nicolette Levy KC, found there was no failure by Crown Law to take appropriate steps to follow up the information, despite him having to wait in jail for another four years before his conviction was overturned.

Geoff Hall, brother of Alan Hall, spoke to Guyon Espiner.