BACKGROUND: WIKIPEDIA: "There was no evidence linking Alan Hall to the scene of the crime. At the trial the police suppressed testimony from Easton's children that the intruder was Māori and failed to call a witness who said he saw a Māori man running away from the house. The police altered the written statement from this witness leaving out the reported ethnicity from the statement, while adding other erroneous incriminating information about Alan Hall into the statement. Police failed to disclose to the defence information about another suspect. Aged 23, Hall was found guilty and given a life sentence. He was released on parole after nine years, but was recalled in 2012 after breaching one of his parole conditions. He was released again in March 2022. He spent 19 years in prison overall. The Supreme Court of New Zealand acknowledged a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred and overturned his conviction on 8 June 2022. In 2024, two police officers and a prosecutor were charged with perverting the course of justice, and a reward of $100,000 was offered for information leading to the conviction of the real murderer."
Wrongful_conviction_of_Alan_Hall
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "As the decision was delivered, Hall sat at the back of the courtoom with his brothers. Outside the court, his brothers spoke on behalf of the family. Geoff Hall said justice has run its course. "Our road came to an end at the Supreme Court, that was our journey. This is a side road that the justice system had been abused, we were here in support of that and Alan as a victim in the family," he said. "To an extent everybody is a victim of what happened in Alan's trial." Geoff Hall said everyone deserved the right to a fair trial. "What's happened here today, this trial, has put anybody on notice. If they want to go through and have their version of what the truth is or be tempted in any way, it's on notice that they can end up in court as well."
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PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: "Greg Hall delivered a statement, saying they respected the court's decision even though it was difficult to accept. "While a verdict did not result in a criminal conviction, some of the facts presented during the trial raised important questions about transparency and fairness," he said. "Every person deserves a right to a fair trial. The right relies on the absolute assurance that all witness evidence presented in court is strictly maintained in its original, unedited state, fully consistent with the established evidentiary standards."
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PASSAGE THREE OF THE DAY: " Private investigator Tim McKinnel helped prove Hall's innocence and was at court for today's decision. He says the process was about accountability, but Arthur Easton's murder was still unresolved. "It's one of those questions that's yet to be answered, who is responsible for what happened to Mr Easten and his sons and so it's a big deal," McKinnel said. "It's one of the real tragedies of this case is that it's taken so long to begin to ask the right questions."
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PASSAGE FOUR OF THE DAY: "Assistant Police Commissioner Corrie Parnell acknoweldged the two families who have been seeking justice for decades - the Hall family and the Easton family.n"This decision brings an end to criminal proceedings and Police stand by our decision to put this case before the courts," Parnell said. He said since the Supreme Court acquitted Hall in 2022, the onus has been on the entire justice system to find out how the substantial miscarriage of justice happened. "It is our view after a thorough investigation decades later that there was an end-to-end Justice system failure, but we also recognised that individuals responsible for key steps in the case played a critical role and that needed to be answered in the courts," Parnell said. He said police accepted that they had a part to play in the failure. "While legislation, systems and processes in the Justice sector have advanced in the decades since this case was first prosecuted, we acknowledge the Hall family have been left waiting for answers for a long time," Parnell said."
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PASSAGE FIVE OFTHE DAY: "A report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority into the case is yet to be released."
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STORY: "Ex-cops not guilty of obstructing justice relating to Alan Hall case," published by Radio New Zealand, (no attribution) on August 12, 2026.
GIST: Two former police officers accused of obstructing justice in an investigation which led to the wrongful conviction of Alan Hall in the 1980s have been found not guilty.
The men, whose names are suppressed, have been on trial in the High Court at Auckland charged with wilfully attempting to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice.
A third former defendant has since died.
Justice Ian Gault delivered the decision on Wednesday morning. He said he couldn't be sure that the officers intended to prevent a court from doing justice.
The men's interim name suppression is extended while the court considers an application for permanent name suppression.
Hall spent 17 years in prison after being convicted of murdering Arthur Easton, who was killed during a home invasion by a man wielding a bayonet.
The decision was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2022 after it found a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred.
As the decision was delivered, Hall sat at the back of the courtoom with his brothers. Outside the court, his brothers spoke on behalf of the family.
Geoff Hall said justice has run its course.
"Our road came to an end at the Supreme Court, that was our journey. This is a side road that the justice system had been abused, we were here in support of that and Alan as a victim in the family," he said.
"To an extent everybody is a victim of what happened in Alan's trial."
Geoff Hall said everyone deserved the right to a fair trial.
"What's happened here today, this trial, has put anybody on notice. If they want to go through and have their version of what the truth is or be tempted in any way, it's on notice that they can end up in court as well."
Greg Hall delivered a statement, saying they respected the court's decision even though it was difficult to accept.
"While a verdict did not result in a criminal conviction, some of the facts presented during the trial raised important questions about transparency and fairness," he said.
"Every person deserves a right to a fair trial. The right relies on the absolute assurance that all witness evidence presented in court is strictly maintained in its original, unedited state, fully consistent with the established evidentiary standards."
Private investigator Tim McKinnel helped prove Hall's innocence and was at court for today's decision.
He says the process was about accountability, but Arthur Easton's murder was still unresolved.
"It's one of those questions that's yet to be answered, who is responsible for what happened to Mr Easten and his sons and so it's a big deal," McKinnel said.
"It's one of the real tragedies of this case is that it's taken so long to begin to ask the right questions."
Assistant Police Commissioner Corrie Parnell acknoweldged the two families who have been seeking justice for decades - the Hall family and the Easton family.
"This decision brings an end to criminal proceedings and Police stand by our decision to put this case before the courts," Parnell said.
He said since the Supreme Court acquitted Hall in 2022, the onus has been on the entire justice system to find out how the substantial miscarriage of justice happened.
"It is our view after a thorough investigation decades later that there was an end-to-end Justice system failure, but we also recognised that individuals responsible for key steps in the case played a critical role and that needed to be answered in the courts," Parnell said.
He said police accepted that they had a part to play in the failure.
"While legislation, systems and processes in the Justice sector have advanced in the decades since this case was first prosecuted, we acknowledge the Hall family have been left waiting for answers for a long time," Parnell said.
Family 'profoundly relieved'
The family of one of the men found not guilty said the verdict brought much-needed closure but the trial caused stress and uncertainty as he defended the serious allegations about decisions made 40 years ago.
"Our family is profoundly relieved that our father has been found not guilty," they said.
"After four years living under serious allegations that questioned his character, integrity, and decades of service to the New Zealand public, this verdict brings much-needed closure."
They said their father's physical and mental wellbeing had been significantly affected.
"What should have been peaceful retirement years were instead consumed by fear, stress, and uncertainty, as he defended himself against charges concerning investigative decisions made approximately forty years ago."
They said they respected the court process and were grateful the evidence was thoroughly tested.
But they were concerned "the process appeared more focused on assigning blame than fairly assessing decisions made in a very different era, under the procedures and legal advice then available".
"We urge police leadership to reflect on how such matters are managed, particularly regarding the support and treatment of retired officers facing charges over historic duties," they said."
GIST: Two former police officers accused of obstructing justice in an investigation which led to the wrongful conviction of Alan Hall in the 1980s have been found not guilty.
The men, whose names are suppressed, have been on trial in the High Court at Auckland charged with wilfully attempting to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice.
A third former defendant has since died.
Justice Ian Gault delivered the decision on Wednesday morning. He said he couldn't be sure that the officers intended to prevent a court from doing justice.
The men's interim name suppression is extended while the court considers an application for permanent name suppression.
Hall spent 17 years in prison after being convicted of murdering Arthur Easton, who was killed during a home invasion by a man wielding a bayonet.
The decision was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2022 after it found a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred.
As the decision was delivered, Hall sat at the back of the courtoom with his brothers. Outside the court, his brothers spoke on behalf of the family.
Geoff Hall said justice has run its course.
"Our road came to an end at the Supreme Court, that was our journey. This is a side road that the justice system had been abused, we were here in support of that and Alan as a victim in the family," he said.
"To an extent everybody is a victim of what happened in Alan's trial."
Geoff Hall said everyone deserved the right to a fair trial.
"What's happened here today, this trial, has put anybody on notice. If they want to go through and have their version of what the truth is or be tempted in any way, it's on notice that they can end up in court as well."
Greg Hall delivered a statement, saying they respected the court's decision even though it was difficult to accept.
"While a verdict did not result in a criminal conviction, some of the facts presented during the trial raised important questions about transparency and fairness," he said.
"Every person deserves a right to a fair trial. The right relies on the absolute assurance that all witness evidence presented in court is strictly maintained in its original, unedited state, fully consistent with the established evidentiary standards."
Private investigator Tim McKinnel helped prove Hall's innocence and was at court for today's decision.
He says the process was about accountability, but Arthur Easton's murder was still unresolved.
"It's one of those questions that's yet to be answered, who is responsible for what happened to Mr Easten and his sons and so it's a big deal," McKinnel said.
"It's one of the real tragedies of this case is that it's taken so long to begin to ask the right questions."
Assistant Police Commissioner Corrie Parnell acknoweldged the two families who have been seeking justice for decades - the Hall family and the Easton family.
"This decision brings an end to criminal proceedings and Police stand by our decision to put this case before the courts," Parnell said.
He said since the Supreme Court acquitted Hall in 2022, the onus has been on the entire justice system to find out how the substantial miscarriage of justice happened.
"It is our view after a thorough investigation decades later that there was an end-to-end Justice system failure, but we also recognised that individuals responsible for key steps in the case played a critical role and that needed to be answered in the courts," Parnell said.
He said police accepted that they had a part to play in the failure.
"While legislation, systems and processes in the Justice sector have advanced in the decades since this case was first prosecuted, we acknowledge the Hall family have been left waiting for answers for a long time," Parnell said.
Family 'profoundly relieved'
The family of one of the men found not guilty said the verdict brought much-needed closure but the trial caused stress and uncertainty as he defended the serious allegations about decisions made 40 years ago.
"Our family is profoundly relieved that our father has been found not guilty," they said.
"After four years living under serious allegations that questioned his character, integrity, and decades of service to the New Zealand public, this verdict brings much-needed closure."
They said their father's physical and mental wellbeing had been significantly affected.
"What should have been peaceful retirement years were instead consumed by fear, stress, and uncertainty, as he defended himself against charges concerning investigative decisions made approximately forty years ago."
They said they respected the court process and were grateful the evidence was thoroughly tested.
But they were concerned "the process appeared more focused on assigning blame than fairly assessing decisions made in a very different era, under the procedures and legal advice then available".
"We urge police leadership to reflect on how such matters are managed, particularly regarding the support and treatment of retired officers facing charges over historic duties," they said."
"Officers who act in good faith, following the procedures and legal advice available at the time, must be able to trust that their organisation will treat them fairly and provide appropriate support when allegations arise."
A report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority into the case is yet to be released."
A report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority into the case is yet to be released."
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog. FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."Lawyer Radha Natarajan: Executive Director: New England Innocence Project; FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true;
