Review Of Request For Costs Promised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31112, 15 July 1966, Page 3

Review Of Request For Costs Promised

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 14. Dr. A. M. Finlay (Opp., Waitakere) asked the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) in Parliament today if he would make another review of a case referred to in the Ombudsman’s report as “case 185.”

The report said the case concerned a man who had been acquitted in the Supreme Court on charges of forgery and uttering related to the presentation of a forged totalisator ticket on a racecourse. The complainant completely denied that he had anything to do with the case. After his acquittal he applied for costs. The application was refused. Mr Hanan said he had given the case prolonged and exhaustive consideration be-

fore he decided not to approve an ex gratia payment. He said that a committee was now sitting to consider the law and practice on the payment of costs in criminal cases and he would consider whether anything more could be done in this particular case in the light of the committee’s recommendation. As the law stood, a man could be acquitted because a case has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt But he might not be innocent said Mr Hanan.