August 04, 2013
Pora face of institutional racism
The Māori Party says Teina Pora, who is serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of south Auckland woman Susan Burdette, is the face of institutional racism in the justice system.
Pressure is mounting for the case to be reviewed after further revelations about the police investigation and collection of evidence.
There is no physical evidence linking the then-teenager to the 1992 crime, but DNA testing in 1996 identified the semen inside her as coming from serial rapist Malcolm Rewa.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says there have been numerous reports about structural discrimination in the justice system, and Pora’s case shows what it can lead to.
The Police Association is also calling for an independent inquiry into the case, because senior police officers now believe a miscarriage of justice had occurred.
Labour's justice spokesperson, Andrew Little, has called for Justice Minister Judith Collins to set up such an inquiry.
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