A Christchurch man who spent two years in prison for rape before having his conviction quashed is to receive $351,575 compensation, the Government confirmed today.
Aaron Farmer served two years of an eight-year sentence after a jury found him guilty of raping a 22-year-old woman in Sydenham in September 2003.
He was freed in June 2007 after the Court of Appeal ruled that alibi evidence was not presented to the jury, and a retrial was ordered. The Crown decided not to go ahead with a retrial after DNA samples from the woman excluded Farmer.
Associate Justice Minister Nathan Guy today apologised for the ''devastating wrong'' and losses Farmer suffered, and said the Crown accepted his innocence.
''These losses include his loss of liberty, loss of reputation, loss or interruption with family or personal relationships, and mental and emotional harm. The payment also acknowledges that some of the questions or suggestions put to Mr Farmer during his police interview were criticised by the courts.
"While the Crown's apology and offer of compensation can never completely make up for the trauma and loss Mr Farmer has suffered, I hope it can go some way in helping him and his family put this very difficult experience behind them,'' Guy said.
Farmer's mother Bev today put the blame squarely on police for her son's wrongful incarceration.
''I believe the police that were concerned were looking for an answer and they chose Aaron. They showed a photograph, apparently to the woman, who was making the accusation and she picked him out of the photographs,'' she told Radio New Zealand.
She believed police had gone out to set up her son, who suffered from Asperger's Syndrome, ''right from the start''.
''I thought that justice was justice. I now know it isn't.''
She said the written apology by the Government was important to the family to prove her son's innocence to people still unsure if he committed the crime.
''[The conviction] destroyed our lives... it took everything.''
Police told Farmer his DNA was on the woman, ''which of course it wasn't - so they lied to him even in his interview'', Bev Farmer said.
She now resented the police force.
''I will never trust a policeman again. I am angry and I don't think I will ever lose that.''
Farmer, 41, who is living on benefits and splits his time between Feilding and Christchurch, said he was considering buying a house with the money or spending it on his motorcycle. He had received support and insults from people who had recognised him since he was freed.
"I've got some good people around the place who have been very good to me."
The keen motorcyclist said he had planned to travel the world on his motorbike before he was sent to prison, but he was "getting a bit old now".
Farmer said he would like an explanation from the woman who made the accusation.
from http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post...ts-Govt-payout
Aspergers syndrome has been around awhile now, you would think the cops would impute that during interviews. Obviously not, what a bunch of thick cops. What a fuck up.
On top of the $350k compensation, this has prolly cost the taxpayer a cool million. Well done lads.
Then there was the media face of looting, another CHCH aspie found with a lampshade and 2 light bulbs while in a condemned building. All the while the demo companies are helping themselves to real belongings. Great work fellas
Why am I upset?
I have aspergers and have suffered this same irrational prejudicial judgement from bullys AND cops. This week I was wrongly accused/bullied by a fellow surfer in front of the pack while out in the waves. I fucken blew him up for a good half hour in front of the crew, what a prick.
I wonder when the cops will WAKE UP and realise that an aspie will not respond the same as a neurotypical during interview, and any tell tale clues of guilt will be very hard to decipher unless said officers ARE TRAINED to work with aspergians.
Aspergers Syndrome is on the increase.
How long before the NZ police get round to dealing with autistic suspects correctly after a crime?
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Originally Posted by miloking
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