172:
times. Both witnesses said there were others present when some of the alleged offending took place. A third witness claimed Thomas had encouraged him to participate in the alleged acts. Full trial details were heavily suppressed. The
Defence claimed the charges were fabricated and motivated by money. Thomas's former solicitor, Chris Reid, told the court he organised a legal meeting on behalf of Thomas with the complainants and their husbands. Among those present were Reid's cousin, Thomas's then-lawyer Peter Williams, and former prime minister David Lange. Reid testified that the complainants made demands for Thomas to pay them money: "If he didn't, they were going to complain to the police about sexual abuse of one sort or another." One complainant said that Thomas' 2019 petition for an apology "was the straw that broke the camel's back" and why she finally went to the police over the alleged sex offending.
176:
testified for the
Defence, including Thomas's second wife. Thomas himself did not testify. In her closing address, Dyhrberg called the man's testimony "the stuff of fantasy"; he himself could not rely upon his own memory. She said the two women had not told the truth, and "it's gotten out of control". In his closing address, Perkins said, "It is far-fetched in the extreme that two women would come along and commit perjury." In summing up, Judge Bergseng told the jury that each charge must be considered separately, with a focus on the evidence specific to each one. But caution was required because the passage of time meant memories of some witnesses may have faded, making it impossible to check some of the witnesses' testimony, and also causing Thomas to lose "the ability to call witnesses who could support his defence". The jury failed to reach a verdict and was discharged on 28 June 2021.
116:
had already been subjected to one of the most intensive police searches ever undertaken. The cartridge case was said to have come from a rifle belonging to Thomas. However, the police tested only 64 rifles in an area where this weapon was common and found that two, including the one belonging to Thomas – could have fired the cartridge case found in the garden. That was the link to the deaths of the Crewes although it was later admitted that the case was "clean" and uncorroded when it was found. As such, the condition of the case was inconsistent with having lain in the garden, exposed to weather and dirt for more than four months.
97:
58:, which is the English meaning of Pukekawa, outlining inconsistencies in the prosecution's case and the theory advanced by the retrial committee. It provided the impetus for a national campaign that eventually led to a controversial retrial where the jury was housed incommunicado with police in a local hotel. Thomas was again convicted.
159:
400,000 to New
Zealand taxpayers, released in July 2014, cleared all other suspects and implied that Arthur Thomas remained a police suspect. The independent review by David PH Jones QC concluded that "It does not appear that there was any real inquiry by the 1970 investigation team into any persons other than Arthur Thomas".
179:
On 14 October 2021 Crown
Prosecutor Charlie Piho told the Manukau District Court the Crown wished to continue with the prosecution. Judge Mina Wharepouri set a trial date for November 2022. However, in September 2022, a stay of prosecution was ordered in response to Thomas now being considered unfit
171:
The trial opened 14 June 2021 at
Manukau District Court, with Aaron Perkins for the Crown and Marie Dyhrberg, QC, for the defence. Judge Jon Bergseng presided. Thomas was now aged 83. One complainant alleged she was raped and indecently assaulted; the other alleged she was indecently assaulted three
167:
In late 2019 Thomas, then aged 81, faced one charge of rape and four of indecent assault against two women. He previously pleaded not guilty and elected trial by jury. His case was called at
Manukau District Court, where he was excused from attending; Judge Charles Blackie lifted suppression orders
158:
said: "that was clearly absurd. It was also an unthinking or calculated insult to Mr Thomas, who spent nine years in prison before being pardoned". Thomas, then age 75, responded by saying the police were engaged in "a blatant cover up". A police review of the original investigation, at a cost of $
124:
The commission report said: "Mr Hutton and Mr
Johnston planted the shell case... and they did so to manufacture evidence that Mr Thomas' rifle had been used for the killings." The Solicitor-General recommended against prosecuting the officers because of insufficient evidence. An independent review
115:
Justice Robert Taylor. It declared Thomas to have been wrongfully charged and convicted and found that among other improprieties, police had planted a .22 rifle cartridge case in the garden of the house in which the murders were committed. The case was found four months and ten days after the area
87:
Thomas received a pardon, and a Royal
Commission report explicitly stated that detectives had used ammunition and a rifle taken from his farm to fabricate false evidence against him. A 2014 police review of the case acknowledged police misconduct was probably the explanation for the key evidence
175:
Reid said
Williams told the complainants the meeting had to take place according to law, the threat could have constituted extortion, and recommended the complainants get independent legal advice. According to Reid, Lange also advised the complainants to go to the police. Three other witnesses
168:
that previously prevented the media from reporting anything about the case. On 15 December 2020 at
Papakura District Court, Thomas's lawyers asked that the charges be dismissed. Judge John Bergseng suppressed argument details of the hearing out of fair trial interests.
966:
31:
district, south of Auckland before the case. Following the revelation that the crucial evidence against him had been faked, Thomas was pardoned in 1979 and awarded NZ$ 950,000 in compensation for his 9 years in prison and loss of earnings.
47:
The report by a retired judge, Sir George MacGregor, which rejected the appeal for a retrial, was also riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies. However, a report on that by journalist Terry Bell, then deputy editor of the
125:
of the 2014 police review by David PH Jones QC, released on 30 July 2014, concluded "In my view, there was sufficient evidence for a prosecution to have been taken against Bruce Hutton based on the available material".
44:, which led to an outcry among elements in the farming community and among relatives of Thomas and his wife, Vivien Thomas. That led to the formation of the Arthur Thomas Retrial Committee.
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54:
Saturday edition, was rejected for publication on the grounds that "it is not the role of the newspapers to attempt to try the courts". Bell then resigned and produced the booklet
319:
Report of the Royal Commission to Inquire into the Circumstances of the Convictions of Arthur Allan Thomas for the Murders of David Harvey Crewe and Jeanette Lenore Crewe, 1980
251:
Report of the Royal Commission to Inquire into the Circumstances of the Convictions of Arthur Allan Thomas for the Murders of David Harvey Crewe and Jeanette Lenore Crewe, 1980
962:
Report of the Royal Commission to Inquire into the Circumstances of the Convictions of Arthur Allan Thomas for the Murders of David Harvey Crewe and Jeanette Lenore Crewe 1980
782:
1001:
101:
Report of the Royal Commission to Inquire into the Circumstances of the Convictions of Arthur Allan Thomas for the Murders of David Harvey Crewe and Jeanette Lenore Crewe
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607:
1016:
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in April 2013. At Hutton's funeral, Deputy Commissioner Mike Bush praised Mr Hutton and said he was known for having "integrity beyond reproach". An editorial in the
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https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300683534/arthur-allan-thomas-pardoned-for-crewe-murders-wont-face-second-trial-on-sex-charges
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The two detectives who planted the shell that helped convict Thomas are now dead. Johnston died in 1978. Bruce Hutton, 83, died in
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304:
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Arthur Allan Thomas, pardoned for Crewe murders, won't face second trial on sex charges, Edward Gay, Stuff, 10 September 2022
746:
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to stand trial due to deteriorating mental health. This in effect ended the prosecution by putting it on hold indefinitely.
957:
Report urging Police to reopen the case in 2006 Based on Chris Birt's investigation into the identity of the unknown woman.
925:
The Case of the Missing Bloodstain : Inside an incompetent and corrupt police inquiry: the truth of the Crewe murders
542:
528:
96:
655:
956:
448:
350:
24:
430:
137:, who also had criminal convictions against him overturned. In 2010 he collaborated with investigative journalist
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217:
138:
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479:
418:
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225:
61:
967:
Investigative journalist Pat Booth 40 years on from the Crewe Murders and what he thinks really happened
145:, where for the first time he gave his perspective on his life, from before the murders to the present.
68:, attended the retrial and became concerned. As part of the campaign for a pardon, Booth wrote a book,
996:
882:
197:
149:
154:
282:
928:
909:
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783:"Arthur Allan Thomas: Defence in sexual abuse trial says complainants were 'fixated' on money"
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229:
108:
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10327013/Crewe-murders-Police-admit-cartridge-planted
635:
112:
608:"Arthur Allan Thomas, pardoned for Jeanette and Harvey Crewe murders, faces rape charge"
727:"NZ Herald - Breaking news, latest news, business, sport and entertainment - NZ Herald"
975:
948:
905:
50:
874:
77:
20:
765:"Arthur Allan Thomas' defence labels evidence of Crown witness 'stuff of fantasy'"
713:"Arthur Allan Thomas trial: Complainants alleged to have issued extortion threat"
670:"Arthur Allan Thomas trial: Man describes being 'haunted' by his role in abuse"
134:
797:"Judge warns Arthur Allan Thomas jury about some witnesses' 'faded' memories"
631:"Arthur Allan Thomas' lawyers want rape, indecent assault charges dismissed"
397:
815:"Hung jury, no verdicts in Arthur Allan Thomas historical sex abuse trial"
393:
41:
28:
23:
and compensation after being wrongfully convicted of the murders of
828:
Arthur Allan Thomas to stand trial again for alleged sex offending
95:
133:
In 2009 Arthur Allan Thomas travelled to Christchurch to support
27:
in June 1970. Thomas was married and farming a property in the
19:(born 2 January 1938) is a New Zealand man who was granted a
656:"Arthur Allan Thomas on trial for rape, indecent assault"
543:"Crewe case evidence may have been fabricated: report"
445:"Editorial: Eulogy shows police have a long way to go"
690:"Woman outlines alleged abuse by Arthur Allan Thomas"
394:"Arthur Allan Thomas in Christchurch to support Bain"
747:"Allan Thomas trial: Woman 'feared being molested'"
858:Bitter Hill: Arthur Thomas—the case for a retrial
72:. That was followed by another campaigning book,
529:"Arthur Allan Thomas May Not Get Police Apology"
303:Crewe murders: Police admit cartridge planted,
8:
351:"Secret Thomas report released, 29 years on"
194:, a 1980 film about the conviction of Thomas
40:There were numerous inconsistencies in the
867:Trial by Ambush: the fate of Arthur Thomas
1002:People convicted of murder by New Zealand
707:
705:
703:
88:against Thomas: a spent cartridge case.
1017:Recipients of New Zealand royal pardons
209:
1007:New Zealand people convicted of murder
650:
648:
646:
1012:People wrongfully convicted of murder
987:Overturned convictions in New Zealand
431:"'Disgust' at probe into Thomas case"
222:Arthur Allan Thomas: The Inside Story
7:
927:. Auckland: Hunter Productions Ltd.
860:. Auckland: Avante-Garde Publishing.
36:Campaign to overturn the convictions
111:was established, headed by retired
80:, which was subsequently made into
869:. Wellington: South Pacific Press.
470:Akoorie, Natalie (11 April 2013).
76:, by British investigative author
14:
472:"Thomas: It's a blatant cover up"
120:No action against police officers
1022:20th-century New Zealand farmers
629:Gay, Edward (15 December 2020).
606:Gay, Edward (19 December 2019).
992:People from the Auckland Region
830:, Edward Gay, 14 October 2021.
226:Howling at the Moon Publishing
64:, the assistant editor of the
1:
527:Moran, Dylan (30 July 2014).
257:, p. 120, archived from
163:Rape and sexual assault trial
949:Article by Pat Booth in the
923:Hunter, Keith (April 2012).
325:, p. 87, archived from
109:Royal Commission of Inquiry
92:Royal Commission of inquiry
1038:
590:"Review By David Jones QC"
377:"Review By David Jones QC"
25:Harvey and Jeannette Crewe
283:"Beyond Reasonable Doubt"
545:. ODT. 22 September 2014
879:Beyond Reasonable Doubt
191:Beyond Reasonable Doubt
82:a film of the same name
74:Beyond Reasonable Doubt
732:The New Zealand Herald
419:Crewe 'plant' cop dies
104:
220:(2010). "chapter 2".
99:
951:New Zealand Listener
900:Birt, Chris (2001).
883:Hodder and Stoughton
856:Bell, Terry (1972).
307:Retrieved 13. 12. 17
198:Crime in New Zealand
865:Booth, Pat (1975).
150:Middlemore Hospital
143:Arthur Allan Thomas
17:Arthur Allan Thomas
502:"Evidence Planted"
476:New Zealand Herald
155:New Zealand Herald
105:
934:978-0-473-19646-2
902:The Final Chapter
675:Radio New Zealand
433:. 31 August 2013.
355:Otago Daily Times
235:978-0-9582401-7-8
129:Subsequent events
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850:Further reading
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70:Trial by Ambush
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510:. Retrieved
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484:. Retrieved
480:the original
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449:the original
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402:. Retrieved
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359:. Retrieved
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334:, retrieved
327:the original
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266:, retrieved
259:the original
250:
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221:
218:Wishart, Ian
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21:Royal Pardon
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997:1938 births
486:2 September
361:2 September
336:1 September
139:Ian Wishart
56:Bitter Hill
976:Categories
268:15 October
204:References
135:David Bain
614:16 August
569:NZ Police
531:. 3 News.
512:15 August
398:The Press
62:Pat Booth
877:(1978).
574:23 March
549:23 March
455:11 April
289:5 August
184:See also
42:evidence
29:Pukekawa
610:. Stuff
404:16 July
931:
912:
889:
232:
103:; 1980
636:Stuff
593:(PDF)
380:(PDF)
330:(PDF)
323:(PDF)
262:(PDF)
255:(PDF)
929:ISBN
910:ISBN
887:ISBN
801:TVNZ
769:TVNZ
751:TVNZ
694:TVNZ
616:2020
576:2017
551:2017
514:2018
488:2013
457:2013
406:2009
363:2013
338:2013
291:2014
270:2010
230:ISBN
978::
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