Moves again in Thomas case

Press, 12 October 1976, Page 2

Moves again in Thomas case

PA Auckland] Arthur Thomas is making! a new plea to the Govern-i ment to reopen his case,] taking in new evidence re-1 vealed since his trials. He has given a letter of authority to Dr J. Sprott and Mr P. Booth, asking them to take all necessary steps on his behalf, especially to put his case to the Minister of Justice (Mr Thomson). In another development yesterday, the two men said they were studying a statement made to them offering new testimony questioning police evidence about the search for a cartridge case in the Crewe garden. A man called after the TVI dramatisation on Saturday of sections of the Thomas trial they said. He cited possible evidence that a search had been made — supporting the testimony of a defence witness at the second trial, and which police witnesses denied at the time.

] Several other approaches [were made yesterday from people who said that until ithey saw the original evidence recreated, with the new defence replies, they did not realise that they might have facts which could assist the defence.

A new Sprott-Booth book “ABC of Injustice” analysing the evidence, is being published this week. It will be given away free. Dr Sprott and Mr Booth yesterday asked Mr Thomson for urgent talks, as a preliminary to a formal approach.

The chairman of the Thomas Retrial Committee (Mr P. Vesey) yesterday reported “overwhelming reacgramme, with hundreds of offers of support. He said that even In the fortnight before the programme, unsolicited donations to the Thomas appeal fund had added $l6OO to money needed for a new appeal.