October 30, 2012
Iti looking to Supreme Court for justice
The lawyer for Tame Iti says the Court of Appeal has got it wrong, and it's now up to the Supreme Court to see justice served.
The court yesterday turned down appeals by the Tuhoe activist and three companions over their conviction on charges stemming from camps held in Te Urewera in 2007.
It said the judge was free to make findings of fact on the intentions of the four, even though the jury was unable to agree on the charge they were part of an organised criminal group.
Russell Fairbrother says it's a strange outcome, given what happened in the trial.
"There was a major concession made by the crown which this court plays down. They conceded they can no longer rely on a common intent. Once that goes, this whole thing about a plan to cause mayhem goes out the window in my view, so I think it's a decision which could have and should have gone the other way," Mr Fairbrother says.
He says Tame Iti deserves better than the courts have delivered, and the invasion of his privacy by police does not reflect well on the country.
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