NZ Herald Rodney Hide: Note to Collins: We want to see justice being done

By Rodney Hide
5:30 AM Sunday Dec 23, 2012

Imagine the scene at police HQ and Crown Law: Justice Binnie has done the unthinkable; he’s written an independent report. Worse, he’s damned Crown Law and Police to hell.

The Government response has been masterful … but hardly justice.

Step one: Sit on report. This must not get out until we are good and ready. Step two: Commission a critical review. From one of our guys. Keep this secret. The review will provide the necessary smoke when Binnie’s report finally is released. Step three: Get Judith “Crusher” Collins to rip into Binnie ahead of his report’s release. That will put half the population on side. It’s their party in power. Plus, the Minister’s condemnation, rather than the report, will become the story.

Step four: Commission a new, independent report. One that will provide more agreeable conclusions.

That hardball from our justice system has worked for 18 years.
I am among the many who had always thought David Bain guilty. I took media reports at the time as true. And I thought a grown man with a paper run – and wearing that woolly jumper – the type more than capable of murdering his entire family.
I was innocent back then, too. I hadn’t seen up close how the New Zealand police hierarchy behaves when backed into a tight corner. And I hadn’t seen Crown Law stick to their guns arguing against all reason and clear facts. I didn’t know then how the police play the media and how the public respect for the justice system is abused by those charged to uphold it.
……
I then read Binnie. It’s hard having a deeply held prejudice overturned. But I was entranced. It is beautifully written and clearly presented. But, more especially, here is the product of a fine mind critically cutting to the chase. Justice Binnie obviously has done the hard work. He’s considered the many issues. He’s weighed them, presented his conclusions with his reasoning and the evidence. He’s done the job asked of him.

If anything, he was scrupulously polite about the New Zealand police and justice system. Wherever possible he gave them the benefit of the doubt and never questioned their motivation.

But police evidence presented at the first trial was false and misleading. That’s why the Privy Council declared Bain’s trial a “substantial miscarriage of justice” and ordered a retrial.

Justice Binnie – and the Privy Council – raise a disturbing question about whether our justice system has the ability to self-correct. The Government’s response, sadly for us, provides the answer, loud and clear.