Hi there. My name is Thomas Francis Knudsen. I took a plea deal after 13 months of maintaining a not guilty plea.
The straw that broke the camels back was that I ended up in Wellington prison among some unsavory characters where I was threatened with getting beaten up almost immediately upon arrival from a transfer from prison in Christchurch (it was OK in Christchurch). The cruelest irony of this was that I was imprisoned for calling the police after my accuser said she was sorry and was going to kill herself.
My appearance in court for which I was remanded, the crown prosecutor painted a picture of me that was nonsense and also claimed someone called the police, rather than me. I don’t get why they do things like this. I barely got time to talk with my lawyer beforehand and he didn’t know to rebut what was said, I didn’t get an opportunity to put forward my side to the judge. I was remanded abruptly.
The media upon sentencing reported the claims of the police as fact even though the judge had acknowledged problems with the claims, not one mention of that made it in the report. I have tried to get them to amend the report and requested they look at the transcript for themselves. They refused, even saying it’s not their job to verify the police claims…
To put it blunt. I was assaulted on the night of my arrest, told to kill myself and prevented from leaving. My accuser embellished the truth with numerous lies, for which I sadly believe her motive was to create a scenario in which her previous ex would be there for her. There’s multiple things that suggest that was the case.
The police made matters much worse by asserting things to be true which they could have easily proven false, making me think they were incompetent or complicit in doing everything they could to increase likelihood of conviction, in order for them to make the claims they did, something majorly wrong has occurred. They put out a number of documents, one comically titled “summary of facts” which was almost entirely nonfactual. Some of which is easily provable so and I know if it was further investigated, there would be a lot of questions to be asked of my accuser and the police. It appears police jumped to the conclusion of guilt and tried to make things fit even though they didn’t. Rather than admit things don’t add up and question my accuser, they doubled down.
If you Google my name to see the reports made about me, you’ll understand my frustration at what has occurred. Knowing it’s not true has not helped me, it’s arguably made it much worse. I don’t know what to do, I’m broken and disheartened that this could happen. It has opened my eyes up to a justice system that has been failing so many.
Had my lawyer informed me what might happen in regards to the media reporting inaccurate police claims as fact. I’d have never taken a plea deal, even if it meant getting beaten by the two gangs I was put in prison with in Wellington.
Also my lawyer said that a stopping violence intiative started the day before my arrest, whether that affected the police to get this wrong, I don’t know.
I’d appreciate anything constructive. Questions, criticisms, advice, the works.
Thank you for your time