Teina Pora Compensation Announcement Confirms $2.52 Million Payout

Teina Pora has been awarded $2,520,949.42 compensation and received a Government apology for being wrongfully convicted of rape and murder. The entire Crown case against Mr Pora has been rejected by a retired High Court judge contracted to review the case by the Government.

Mr Pora spent 21 years in prison for the rape and murder of Susan Burdett. Rodney Hansen, QC, said he could have found Mr Pora innocent on a higher standard than on the balance of probabilities - the test to trigger a Government payment for a wrongful conviction.

Justice Hansen was appointed last year to review the case after the Privy Council quashed Mr Pora's convictions and directed that he not be tried again for the 1992 crimes.

In his report, Justice Hansen said: "Indeed the state of the evidence is such that, in my view, he could have proved his innocence to an even higher level."

Justice Hansen has concluded that convicted serial rapist Malcolm Rewa acted alone and was solely responsible for the crimes.

Ms Adams said she had written to Mr Pora to acknowledge his innocence and "unreservedly" apologise to him for the "devastating impact" the wrongful conviction and imprisonment had on him.

At a press conference this afternoon, Ms Adams read out her apology letter to Mr Pora at his request.

"I am very happy to do so," she accepted that some people felt that the payout to Mr Pora should have been higher, saying that there were "a range of views" on the final figure.

- NZ Herald