Patrick and Marie Easton, Arthur’s children, call on those holding onto information to come forward 39 years after their father's murder. Video / NZ Police
The children of murdered Papakura man Arthur Easton have spoken out for the first time to plead for people with information about the killing of their father 39 years ago to come forward.
Easton’s case has become especially notorious among New Zealand murders because of thewrongful conviction and imprisonment of Alan Hall.
Last year Hall received a record payout of a wrongfully convicted person of $5 million after he was acquitted of responsibility for the murder by the Supreme Court in 2022.
Easton was stabbed to death by an intruder with a bayonet at his home in Papakura in October 1985.
On Monday morning, police public relations staff released a statement and video from Patrick and Marie Easton, two of Easton’s five children, who called for anyone with information on the case to come forward.
Their appeal follows the announcement by police in October of a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for their father’s death. The reward remains in place until January 25, police have said.
Easton grew up in Waitara, Taranaki, before his telecommunications career led him to Auckland with his wife and five children, police said in the release.
Marie Easton said she remembered her father’s smile and blue eyes.
“He was a good father and worked hard to provide what we needed,” she said
“Fun was based around the simple things in life, going to the beach, barbecues, family and good friends.
“Dad was always interested in what we were doing and what was happening in our lives, he was always there to talk to.”
Arthur Easton, plus the beanie found at the scene and the murder weapon, a bayonet.
Patrick Easton is quoted as saying his father was intelligent with strong values and a great sense of humour.
“He instilled in all of us a strong belief that we can succeed at what we set our minds to.
“He taught us to always do the right thing and he would have loved to see and be part of the lives of his eight grandchildren and soon to be five great-grandchildren.”
He said their father’s death had “sucked a lot of joy out of our lives”.
“Whoever came into our home that night doesn’t deserve the protection of anybody. My dad didn’t deserve to die that night the way he did and carrying around that burden of knowledge on your shoulders is a huge thing to carry.”
Three people, who have suppression of name and occupation, were charged earlier this year with perverting the course of justice in relation to Hall’s conviction. Justice Matthew Downs last month set a trial date for the trio of February 23, 2026.
Easton and his two teenage sons were attacked in October 1985 by a bayonet-wielding home invader.
He was stabbed in his liver and died of blood loss after emergency services arrived on the scene.
The murder weapon and a woolly hat were all that was left at the scene by the alleged murderer, described as a tall, broad, Māori man.
Alan Hall, who was later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, came to police attention two months later because he owned a bayonet and beanie similar to the ones found at the scene, and was walking in the area at the time of the attack.
Alan Hall was formally acquitted of the murder of Arthur Easton by the Supreme Court in 2022 and received almost $5m in compensation the following year. Photo / Greg Bowker
Extensive police questioning of Hall ensued and he was charged with murder.
The attacker’s description and key witness statements from a man in the area at the time were allegedly concealed by police, and in 1986 a jury found Hall guilty.
In 2022, Hall had his conviction quashed by the Supreme Court, which determined key evidence at his trial was “materially altered”.
The next year the Government agreed to a $4,933,725.75 payout as compensation for Hall’s time in prison.
After the compensation was settled, four further separate investigations were ongoing including two by police to establish whether anyone in the organisation committed an offence by altering evidence and one by the Solicitor-General in relation to the Crown’s role in the significantly botched prosecution.
In August, police announced they were laying charges against the trio and had executed search warrants and served the men summons.
“Three men have been summonsed and will be charged for what police will allege was their role in the conviction of Mr Hall for murder,” said Police Assistant Commissioner (Investigations) Paul Basham.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact police via a dedicated line on 0800 GROVE 1985 (0800 47683 1985) or via email on Operation.Grove1985@police.govt.nz
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