Mr Hutton at appeal hearing

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 1

Mr Hutton at appeal hearing

PA Wellington The detective who led the Arthur Allan Thomas investigation, the former Detective Chief Inspector Bruce Hutton. yesterday told a Court of Appeal hearing he had been prevented from giving evidence he should have been allowed to give at the second hearing of the case. Replying to a question by the Chief Justice. Sir Ronald Davison, Mr Hutton said his reason for joining Supreme Court proceedings on the case was to be able to give evidence "without being stopped." He asserted he was stopped from giving statements in the manner he had wanted to about the way he

had carried out the Crewe murder inquiry, and was "not permitted" to read his prepared brief and then be cross-examined. Mr Hutton and Mrs Margaret Johnston, the widow of Detective L. J. Johnston, with the New Zealand Police Association and the NewZealand- Police Officers’ Guild, have made an application for review of some findings of the Royal Commission on the Arthur Allan Thomas case. They have also appealed against a decision of a Full Court sitting in the High Court at Auckland on August 29. 1980. A full Bench of Court of Appeal judges is hearing the

application, which is expected to last about two weeks.

To counsel for the Royal Commission. Mr J. T. Eichelbaum, Mr Hutton said it had "started to cross his mind” that allegations of police impropriety might be raised before his second appearance.

He said he saw no reason to consider personal representation, and thought he was being represented generally as one of the police. He said in the light of the commission's findings he now considered he had been disadvantaged in researching his statement to the commission.

His requests for access to material were not actually

refused but had been put off because the material was being used by the commission. Mr Hutton said. In cross-examination. Mr Hutton said more people than he originally , stated may have been in the police party working at the Thomas house the day the controversial cartridge case was found. He had originally mentioned five, including police photographers. Mr Hutton said he . had obtained transcripts of some evidence given to the commission. because he considered it would help him to assist the commission. He said he had taped all conversations relating to the case as he intended one day to write a book about it.