Accused Man Claims His Statement Was ‘Falsified’

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 16

Accused Man Claims His Statement Was ‘Falsified’

(New Zealand Pre** Association)

NAPIER, Nov. 15. The conflict between a written statement made by the accused to the police and evidence later given by him was commented upon in the Supreme Court at Napier today by the Chief Justice (Sir Harold Barrowelough) He was presiding at the trial of Peter Ingleby Miller, who was found not guilty by a jury of the theft of building materials valued at £ll 3s 9d. A carpenter, aged 26, Miller was alleged to have stolen 295 ft of timber and seven sheets of roofing iron from Beazley Packaged Homes, Ltd., while he was working on a subdivision at Taradale. His Honour drew the jury’s attention to the conflict between Miller’s written statement to the police, which had been refuted on oath, and his statements from the witness-box.

Miller said Detective P. M. Miller. Who interviewed him. had left things out Of his statement and that the statement contained things the accused had not said, said his Honour. It was proved that accused had written, “I have read this and it is true.” on his statement, and had also initialled a correction, said his Honour “The police are required to be Scrupulously fair, and must include in a statement anything extenuating said by

a suspected person,” he said. “If any policeman does not do this, he Should not be in the Police Force." It was possible, therefore, that the jury’s decision could have grave repercussions beyond the scope of the present inquiry. The accused had said that Detective Miller had falsified the statement “I use the word ‘falsified’ because there is no other word for it,” said his Honour. His Honour said the case was important to the Crown, the accused and, indirectly, to Detective Miller. He would not attempt to solve the problem for the jury. They would have to make their Own decision. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.