Police 'spread misinformation' in Crewe murder case

Harvey and Jeannette Crewe were slain in 1970. Photo / NZHerald

An investigative journalist is accusing police of helping to spread "misinformation'' about the historic Crewe double-murder case by not releasing a document that exonerates a woman suspected of feeding baby Rochelle Crewe in the days after her parents were murdered.

Jeanette and Harvey Crewe were murdered in June 1970 at their rural Pukekawa homestead, south of Auckland.

Local farmer Arthur Allan Thomas was convicted of the killings at two trials, but was pardoned in 1979, leading to speculation that Mrs Crewe's father, Len Demler, was the prime suspect.

During the first trial, a farm worker Bruce Roddick, now deceased, gave evidence that he saw a woman outside the Crewe's home two days after the murders.

In the lead up to Mr Thomas's second trial in 1973 there was speculation that the woman might have been Norma Demler, Mr Demler's second wife.

However, a statement made by Mr Roddick to the police said Mrs Demler was not the person he saw.

Investigative journalist Bryan Bruce said it took more than a year for police to release the statement to him under the Official Information Act.

He said the statement was given after Mr Roddick had been driven to the Demler farm to see Mrs Demler on June 1, 1972 by Detective Inspector Bruce Hutton, who was heading the inquiry.

During that visit, Mr Roddick said Mrs Demler had darker hair than the woman he had seen, but a second view of Mrs Demler, wearing different clothes convinced him she was not the same woman.

"The statement must be a true one because it was listed as Exhibit R14 at Thomas's second trial. It is not like the bullet evidence. Bruce Roddick took the stand at that trial and had his statement been a forgery he could have been asked about it under oath,'' Mr Bruce said.

"But it was never mentioned at the second trial because the Thomas defence team knew they could not point the finger at Mrs Demler because the Crown had Roddick's statement that she was not the woman he saw that day.''

Mr Roddick's statement proved that the rumours that Mrs Demler feed baby Rochelle were wrong, he said.

"... and she deserves an apology from all those who have made her life miserable over the years with their cruel and unfounded speculations.''

Mr Bruce said speculation about Mrs Demler was able to continue for so many years because police did not release the note.

"The time has come for a Judicial Review, preferably by an overseas judge,'' he said.

But police said Mr Bruce was well aware they had committed "significant resources and expertise'' to a review of the Crewe homicides by Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock.

Assistant Commissioner Allan Boreham said once completed, the review would then be independently assessed.

"We note that, despite several invitations, Mr Bruce has chosen not to assist this process by providing information for consideration as part of the review.

"We know there is a very strong and enduring public interest in this case and we need to make sure we are meticulous in our approach,'' Mr Boreham said.

It was a complex process with the complexity further increased by age of the matter and the amount of information to assess, he said.