Teina Pora appeal: Privy Council decision due tonight

Teina Pora. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Convicted rapist and murderer Teina Pora is due to learn tonight whether his appeal to the Privy Council in London is successful.

Pora, who was freed on parole last April, spent 20 years in prison for the 1992 rape and murder of Aucklander Susan Burdett.

His case has been reviewed by a Privy Council panel of five judges, including NZ Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias.

Their decision will be delivered in the UK capital at 10pm (NZT).

Pora has twice been convicted of Ms Burdett's rape and murder but his legal team have argued that evidence shows serial rapist Malcolm Rewa was responsible.

The brother of Ms Burdett believed Pora was an innocent man and hoped the Privy Council would quash the conviction.

Jim Burdett told NZME. News Service at the conclusion of the Privy Council hearing in November that he hoped new investigations would be opened if Pora was cleared.
He said he would like to see some "resolution."

However, Mr Burdett accepted that if the court finds the conviction was sound, then "that is pretty much the end of the matter".