Press Release

29 June 1999

The Magna Carta Society has written to the Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias, asking whether the Court of Appeal can reopen the case over the removal of the Schier children from New Zealand.

Society researcher, John Howard said, a large part of our membership is of the view there has been unjust and unduly harsh consequences flowing to the children, they have been inflicted with cruel and unusual punishment, there are errors of law in the Court judgments and, consequently, there has been a miscarriage of justice.

Mr Howard said, it is clear to us that the rights of the children under New Zealand law have been abrogated and they were unable to exercise their legal rights in real or practical terms as citizen's of New Zealand.

The rights of the children seems largely to have been overlooked in this case. They appear to have been the victims of their parent's failure to persuade the Minister and the Court's of the family's case to remain in New Zealand.

There remains a significant public interest in this case which is not going away, Mr Howard said

Contact magnacarta@minidata.co.nz

ENDS

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