Opinion: $2.52M? Teina Pora shafted again

Teina Pora (file)
Teina Pora (file)

Teina Pora deserved more than $2.52 million in compensation from the Government.

It is pathetic. It is insulting. It continues the injustice.

As law expert Chris Gallavin told me today – "it's a spit in the face".

It's just above the minimum Government guidelines. 

He did not rape and kill Susan Burdett in 1992. There was no evidence. No DNA. 

Nothing.

Yet he did 22 years inside New Zealand's toughest prison.

He had few friends and even fewer visitors in that time.

He was set up. And then he was abandoned by the system.

No one gave a stuff about him. He was left to rot.

Then some good people came into his life and helped. 

But the damage had been done.

He missed seeing his daughter grow up.

He lost the best years of his life.

Even the full apology today seems cold. 

I want to hear from the police who sent him to prison. 

They need to front and say sorry. 

And while they're at it -- add another $2 or $3 million to the compensation cheque.

David Dougherty received more than $800,000 for three years inside.

At just over $2.52 million compensation -- Pora has just been shafted again.