Three people are due to appear in court in connection with the wrongful conviction of Alan Hall — one of the country’s worst miscarriages of justice.
Hall was wrongfully imprisoned for 19 years for the murder of Arthur Easton in 1985. Last year he received $4.9 million in compensation after a retired High Court judge found him innocent on the balance of probabilities.
Assistant Commissioner of Investigations Paul Basham told 1News that police have issued court summons today for two former police staff and a Crown lawyer involved in the case.
“This follows a thorough, methodical investigation led by a Detective Superintendent, and independent legal review which has led to our decision to lay charges.”
Search warrants were conducted at Auckland properties by the investigation team today.
“Three men have been summonsed and will be charged for what police will allege was their role in the conviction of Mr Hall for murder.”
They will appear in the Manukau District Court on September 4.
Basham said both the Hall and Easton families had been advised of the development.
“We acknowledge both families have been seeking answers for a wrongful conviction, and answers as to who murdered Arthur Easton.”
A spokesperson for the Hall family said they welcome the developments.
“Police and the Crown have long been aware of our teams concerns regarding the prosecution of Alan,” they said.
“This is a significant day for Alan and his family, but also the Easton family.
“Alan understands, more than most, the importance of a fair trial, so now it’s time to let justice take its course.”
In 2022, the Supreme Court quashed Hall’s conviction after the Crown admitted an important piece of evidence had been “unjustifiably” altered, leading to a miscarriage of justice.
A key witness statement was changed to remove the description of a man seen fleeing the scene as Māori – Hall is Pākehā.
Hall was 23 when he was wrongfully convicted of murder, and 60 when his name was finally cleared. He endured four failed appeals during the process.
The case has sparked multiple inquiries, including a renewed investigation into Easton’s murder. Last year an independent report cleared Crown Law of any wrongdoing. The report was passed on to the police to investigate Crown Law’s actions further.
The IPCA is also investigating and is still to release its report.
