Thursday, 30 November 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand / Crime

Justice of sorts after 32 years

NZPA
26 Jul, 2010 04:00 PM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

New Zealand sailor Kerry Hamill, tortured and killed in a Cambodian jail, can never be laid to rest but his brother Rob was yesterday able to see the man responsible for his death, and that of thousands of others, jailed.

Kerry Hamill ended up at the S-21 or Tuol Sleng prison when the yacht he and friends were sailing strayed into Cambodian waters on August 13, 1978.

One crewman, Canadian Stuart Glass, was shot dead. Kerry Hamill and Briton John Dewhirst were taken for interrogation and torture for two months before being killed.

Documented figures put Tuol Sleng's toll at 12,380 but other reports put it between 14,000 and 17,000.

More than 30 years later, Kerry's brother Rob was in court to see 67-year-old Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, sentenced to 35 years' jail for his roles in the deaths.

Mr Hamill said the sentence was not as long as he had wanted but "it's the end of a chapter with an exclamation mark.

"This was a big deal, a historic moment for humanity but in terms of internal family grieving processes ... it never ends".

The family struggled with the loss, with one brother committing suicide.

Mr Hamill has asked Duch's lawyer to try to arrange a meeting, which may happen in the next few days.

"I just want to understand him."

He also wants to press for more information about Kerry, whose body was never found.

The joint international-Cambodian tribunal - on which former New Zealand Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright sat as one of the judges - handed down a 35-year sentence but given the time Duch already served waiting trial he would get out in about 19 years, aged 86.

Mr Hamill did not think that was right but said the sentence would give some solace.

"To know that this man who met my brother and all those other people in that prison is now sentenced is some sort of justice."

- NZPA

Related articles

World

Khmer Rouge torturers face justice

25 Jul 04:00 PM
World

Hamill wanted longer sentence for Khmer Rouge's Duch

26 Jul 07:38 AM
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Police treating North Shore death as unexplained after person dies on road

29 Nov 07:36 PM
New Zealand

Hamilton becomes first NZ airport with own solar farm

29 Nov 07:35 PM
Kahu

Gender pay gap closing but wāhine ‘working for free’ for the rest of the year

29 Nov 07:30 PM
New Zealand

Return of cultural site pivotal for Tauranga hapū

29 Nov 07:11 PM

Top toys of 2023 for kids & ‘kidults’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Police treating North Shore death as unexplained after person dies on road

Police treating North Shore death as unexplained after person dies on road

29 Nov 07:36 PM

Police received reports of an unresponsive person early this morning.

Hamilton becomes first NZ airport with own solar farm

Hamilton becomes first NZ airport with own solar farm

29 Nov 07:35 PM
Gender pay gap closing but wāhine ‘working for free’ for the rest of the year

Gender pay gap closing but wāhine ‘working for free’ for the rest of the year

29 Nov 07:30 PM
Return of cultural site pivotal for Tauranga hapū

Return of cultural site pivotal for Tauranga hapū

29 Nov 07:11 PM
Toy trends for Christmas
sponsored

Toy trends for Christmas

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP