Police to investigate charging those responsible for Alan Hall's wrongful conviction

Tuesday, 20 December 2022

Alan Hall, who was convicted of murdering Arthur Easton, spent 19 years in jail for the crime. His conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court. Stuff followed Alan and his family during the process. (First published in June 2022)

The possibility of those responsible for Alan Hall’s wrongful conviction facing criminal charges has moved a step closer.

Hall was convicted in 1986 of murdering Auckland father of five, Arthur Easton, 52, and spent a total of 19 years in prison.

In June this year, the Supreme Court quashed his conviction, highlighting a crucial witness’s statement being deliberately altered; the concealing of other vital witness statements that pointed away from Hall being the culprit; and unfair questioning by police of Hall, who has an intellectual disability.

Five reviews of the case were subsequently ordered, including one by Solicitor-General Una Jagose into the Crown’s role in Hall’s wrongful conviction.

**READ MORE:

Arthur Easton, who was murdered in his home in Papakura in October 1985. Alan Hall was convicted of his murder in 1986. In June 2022 the Supreme Court quashed Hall's conviction, saying there had been a substantial miscarriage of justice.

* 'It should never have happened': How everyone turned a blind eye to Alan Hall's wrongful conviction

* Injustice and insult: Why is Alan Hall having to prove his innocence?

* Crown knew about serious problems with Alan Hall's murder conviction, but did nothing

Solicitor-General Una Jagose is not releasing a report into the Crown’s role in Alan Hall’s wrongful conviction, but has instead sent it to police to investigate if charges should be laid against those responsible for the miscarriage of justice.

* Arthur Easton's family react to quashing of Alan Hall murder conviction

This investigation, carried out by Wellington barrister Nicolette Levy, KC, considered the actions of the Crown prosecutor at Hall’s trial, as well as Crown Law staff, and why Crown Law didn’t act on information it was given as early as 2018, that clearly pointed to Hall being wrongfully convicted.

On Tuesday, Jagose announced she wouldn’t be releasing Levy’s report, but would instead be sending it to police, to investigate if any offences had been committed.

Jagose noted this would further prolong an already lengthy process of understanding what went wrong in Hall’s case, but said it was necessary, and releasing the report now could jeopardise any police investigation.

Alan Hall, centre, with brothers Greg, left, and Geoff. Alan was 23 when he became the police’s prime suspect in the murder of Arthur Easton. He was released from prison in March 2022.

Meanwhile, police are also refusing to release findings of a review they conducted of the original homicide investigation.

Assistant Commissioner Lauano Sue Schwalger said they are considering what their next steps should be, but won’t release the report while other reviews are ongoing.

Three other reviews into the case have been launched: another by the police into the failure to disclose crucial information to Hall and his legal team, which is due to be finished early next year; one by the Independent Police Conduct Ano uthority; and the review of a claim for compensation by Hall for the years he spent in prison, by retired judge Rodney Hansen, KC.

Alan Hall’s brother, Geoff Hall, said the Solicitor-General’s office had updated them regarding Nicolette Levy’s report.

However, the family had heard nothing from police about their twin investigations.

Geoff Hall said his brother, now 60, wanted those responsible for his wrongful conviction to be held accountable.

“Alan’s end goal is he wants to know what happened to him. He wants to know why he lost 36 years of his life.”

However, Geoff supported the cautious approach taken by the Solicitor-General in not releasing Levy’s report at this stage.

“If there’s going to be a trial of anybody, it needs to be a fair trial.”

In a statement on Tuesday from Alan Hall and his brothers Geoff and Greg, the family said it was grateful to have been given an opportunity to review Levy’s report.

“It is gruelling to see some of the detail regarding what is alleged to have occurred, but we are comforted that the truth is finally starting to emerge.

“Our thoughts remain with the Easton family, who must have as many questions as we do about what went wrong, and why.”

The family paid tribute to the support Alan had received from the community and “would like his supporters to know that he is enjoying his freedom and is beginning to rebuild his life.”

The Easton family declined to comment.