Pora appeal: Victim's brother hopes for new investigation

Teina Pora's case has been before the Privy Council today. He was convicted of the rape and murder of Susan Burdett. Photo, Ms Burdett's house. Inset, Teina Pora. Photo / Herald file

The brother of Susan Burdett hopes that if London's Privy Council quashes Teina Pora's conviction for her rape and murder that new investigations will be opened.

Jim Burdett, whose sister Susan was attacked in her Papatoetoe home in 1992, believes that Pora, who is now on parole after serving 21 years in jail for the crime, is an innocent man.

He has followed the Privy Council arguments closely and believes that Pora will be cleared.

Mr Burdett, 66, has previously suggested that serial rapist Malcolm Rewa was behind his sister's slaying.

And while he has no beef with the original police investigation, he said today that if Pora's conviction is quashed then "logic would suggest that nobody has been convicted of my sister's murder, therefore there should be further inquiries made."

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

"I have no issue with the police on this. There were a series of events that unfolded ... and it's all very well to look back with hindsight, but I am more interested in looking forward," he said.

"I'm not looking for vengeance ... I like to see justice and I like to see truth.

"While I would like to see a resolution to this, I can fully accept things. I'm not holding my breath."

Over the years, Mr Burdett said he had managed to cope with his sister's death and the ongoing, high-profile case.

"Life throws a lot of stuff at you, both good and bad. You accept it and you eventually integrate it into your personality and who you are. One of the facets of who I am is a brother whose sister was murdered. And once you get that sense of acceptance and integration, the anger and the hurt recedes quite a lot. I dealt with that a long time ago."