Man imprisoned for murder tries to appeal again

Press, 12 February 1986, Page 24

Man imprisoned for murder tries to appeal again

PA Auckland Dean Wickliffe, sentenced to life imprisonment almost 14 years ago for the murder of a Wellington jeweller, has lodged a petition with the Governor-General, sir Paul Reeves, in a bid to have the Court of Appeal hear fresh evidence in his case.

Late last year the Court of Appeal dismissed an application filed by Wickliffe’s lawyer, Mr Charles Cato, to have the evidence heard. Wickliffe had failed in an .earlier appeal soon after his trial in 1972.

In its judgment last year, the Court of Appeal ruled for the first time that a second application for leave to appeal could not be granted under New Zealand law.

Sir Paul has to grant Wickliffe’s petition, sent to Wellington by Mr Cato.

before the Court of Appeal will hear the evidence.

Wickliffe was given a life sentence at the age of 23. He had been found guilty of the murder of Mr Paul Miet, who was shot in his jewellery shop in Cuba Street, Wellington. The new evidence, revealed under the Official Information Act, is an oral statement made by a witness to the shooting soon afterwards and recorded on a police job sheet.

The statement was not produced by the prosecution at Wickliffe’s trial and was not available to counsel defending him at the time. The statement conflicts with information revealed during-the trial. Wickliffe is serving his sentence at Paremoremo maximum-security prison in Auckland.