Govt doubles reward

Press, 15 January 1985, Page 1

Govt doubles reward

Wellington reporter

A reward of $50,000 has been posted for information on the Wellington Trades Hall bomb murder. The new offer, twice that offered last year and the largest amount ever put up by the Government, will remain in force until December, 31. The Minister of Police, Mrs Hercus, made the announcement yesterday and said that all present avenues in the bombing inquiry had been exhausted. The money will be paid to the person who first gives material information or evidence leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Mr Ernest Abbott. Mr Abbott, a cleaner, was killed on March 27 last year when he picked up a suitcase bomb left in the foyer of the Trades Hall.

The Government posted a $25,000 reward the week after the bombing but this expired last month with no claimants. The latest offer had been made in consultation with the officer in charge of the murder inquiry, Detective Inspector Ted Lines, Mrs Hercus said. The same conditions applied as with the earlier reward. The Solicitor-Gen-eral’s indemnity from prosecution would be available if the informant was an accomplice to the crime but not the principal offender. Mrs Hercus said the public had already supplied the police with a great deal of information on the bombing but that none of it had led to an arrest.

“Someone out there knows who killed Mr Abbott and hopefully this very substantial reward will persuade them to come forward,” said Mrs Hercus.