NZ Police comment on Teina Pora announcement

Media response from Acting Commissioner, Glenn Dunbier:

NZ Police acknowledge today’s apology and compensation announcement from the Crown for Mr Teina Pora. NZ Police also apologise to Mr Pora for the deficiencies found in the original Police investigation.

The report by Mr Rodney Hansen QC, along with the March 2015 judgement of the Privy Council, highlights how foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) was not identified by police or Mr Pora’s defence team in his 1994 and 2000 trials as a possible factor in Mr Pora’s confessions.

At that time FASD was a condition which was still being understood by science, and its relevance to criminal investigations was yet to be fully recognised.

Police accept Mr Hansen’s view that Mr Pora’s version of events regarding the rape and murder of Susan Burdett made in his confessions cannot stand up to critical scrutiny.

Police also acknowledge that there were deficiencies in the original investigation as identified by Mr Hansen, and we apologise to Mr Pora for this.

Police would like to state that both the investigation and prosecution of Mr Pora was conducted in good faith.

As the Privy Council noted in its March 2015 judgement regarding the police interviews with Mr Pora:

“None of the police officers exerted pressure on Pora.

Indeed, they were if anything, fastidiously correct in their treatment of him.”

There are lessons to be learnt from this case but there is nothing to suggest that police staff involved acted in anything other than good faith.

Significant advancements have been made in police investigation practices since the convictions of Teina Pora in 1994 and 2004.

This includes far greater sophistication in interview practices, and an enhanced awareness of confessions and the risks they may create.

A greater understanding is also being gained on the impact of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and the potential impacts this may have on the cognitive and behavioural functions of individuals who are being interviewed by Police.

Police staff strive to do their very best in every matter which is presented to them, particularly with major investigations such as this.

It is enshrined in modern investigative practice to ensure that we carry out thorough, robust and professional inquiries which meet the high standards rightly expected by the courts, victims, offenders and the public.

ENDS

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