By KEVIN TAYLOR
Arthur Allan Thomas wants people to support a new trial for Scott Watson, the man convicted of the Marlborough Sounds murders.
Mr Thomas was pardoned after being wrongly convicted and jailed in 1970 for the murder of farmers Jeanette and Harvey Crewe.
The 62-year-old joined his daughter Bridget and about 10 others in a march in Hamilton at the weekend calling for Watson to be freed.
Two weeks ago the Weekend Herald reported that a man who shared a cell with Watson, Secret Witness A, had recanted on damning evidence he had given against him.
Watson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for the murder of Blenheim friends Ben Smart and Olivia Hope on New Year's Day 1998.
Mr Thomas said Watson could be innocent when the evidence was studied.
"But what I'm saying is the jury has been misled, so you must order a new trial and let another jury look at it.
"I ask the people of New Zealand to do what they did for me. I'm grateful and thankful for the people who supported me by writing to their MPs."
Thomas, who served nine years in jail before being pardoned and awarded $1 million compensation, said justice must be seen to be done in the eyes of the public.
"A new trial must be granted to let a new jury look at it. A man's doing time in there, so something has got to be done about it right away."
The march was organised by Hamilton dentist Ron White, who vowed to continue his campaign to free Watson.
Mr White, who has twice visited Watson in jail, said the crown case was based on circumstantial evidence and he was convinced of Watson's innocence.
Thomas supports retrial
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.