"Teina Pora, convicted for a murder he did not commit
and wrongly imprisoned for 21 years, needs an apology, according to a
new book out on Friday. In Dark Places: The Confessions of Teina Pora and an Ex-Cop's Fight for Justice,
writer Michael Bennett lays out the many strands of Pora's story over
the course of 23 years — from the morning a 17-year-old car thief was
picked up by police, to the night the Privy Council in London quashed
his convictions. Pora was wrongly convicted of the 1992 rape and
murder of 39-year-old Susan Burdett at her Papatoetoe home. He gave
police a false confession, motivated by a $20,000 reward for
information.........The book,
which tells of investigator Tim McKinnel's six-year personal crusade to
get Pora released from prison, shines a light on the likelihood that
other New Zealanders are falsely imprisoned — especially those with
FASD, or foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which affects Pora. Dr Valerie McGinn diagnosed Pora with FASD in 2013, which was helpful for the team pushing his case, but also devastating. "For
the man for whom they feel such affection and respect, FASD is another
life sentence," writes Bennett, also a filmmaker, who made a documentary
about Pora, Confessions of Prisoner T. "But this sentence, no one can ever overturn." Dr
McGinn estimates about 20 per cent of the prison population may have
undiagnosed FASD. It affects a sufferer's ability to remember things,
articulate their thoughts, understand questions and think through the
consequences of their actions. The book, published by Paul Little Books, also concludes that Susan Burdett's true killer must now be brought to justice........Bennett also tells the story from the
perspectives of lawyer Marie Dyhrberg, who represented Pora at his
retrial in 2000; Jonathan Krebs, who led the Privy Council appeal; and
members of Pora's family."
Friday, March 18, 2016
Bulletin: Teina Pora: 'In Dark Places: The Confessions of Teina Pora and an Ex-Cop's Fight for Justice.' New book on Teina Pora, by author Michael Bennett published today - Friday March 18, 2016 - tells of an investigator's personal crusade to clear an innocent man who was finally freed after losing 21 years of his young life in prison;
