Witness recants evidence

Press, 27 July 1984, Page 4

Witness recants evidence

PA Wellington A witness who has recanted evidence she gave in the Cancian murder trial did so because she feared criminal associates, the Court of Appeal was told yesterday. Crown counsel, Mr Jim Larsen, said that Jessica Mary Carpenter, of Hamilton, had told the police that eof the motivation for recantation was to effect a reconcilation with antagonistic criminal associates. She also felt sorry for Wayne Maurice Carstairs. Carstairs and Michael John Sneller are appealing against conviction for the murder of Robert Cancian at Lower Hutt in February last year. Ms Carpenter told the C: she had received ts and was disgruntled

with the police because of their failure to keep promises. Mr Larsen said her credibility had to be assessed and the Court should disregard the recantation affidavit. She was a witness of comparatively minor significance in the case. Carstairs’ counsel, Mr Michael Bungay, had claimed that descriptions by witnesses of the murderers’ heights were inconsistent with Carstairs. But Mr Earsen said there was only one witness’s description of which that could be said, and she had been sitting in a car — not the best position for judging height. Mr Justice Greig, Mr Justice Richardson, and Sir Clifford Richmond reserved decision on the appeal. Earlier report, page 8