8 May 2012

Media Release:

Urewera four decision a victory for common sense

The decision not to retry the Urewera four is a victory for common sense and a vindication of the stance taken by GPJA since the first day this fiasco began on 15 October 2007.

We are pleased with the decision because it finally removes the threat of further arduous court hearings beyond the sentencing later this month of the four defendants on technical breaches of the Arms Act.

The decision is an acknowledgement that the crown had no real hope of gaining any serious convictions from a New Zealand jury in a case which police “hyped to the max” four and a half years ago and bandied around the word terrorism.

It would have been to pile another injustice upon these activists to have continued with this sorry saga.

These defendants, and the other 13 for whom all charges were dropped, have already been given a life sentence in having their names linked by police with terrorism.

An apology and compensation should be the next steps.

ends

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