Tamihere’s lying accuser jailed

The jailhouse informer who gave false evidence at David Tamihere’s 1990 double murder trial has been jailed for lying under oath, but will keep his name suppression for now.

However, a judge has ruled the man can be named once he has exhausted his options for appeal at the Court of Appeal.

‘‘Witness C’’ was sentenced to eight years and seven months in prison for eight counts of perjury at the High Court in Auckland yesterday.

Justice Christian Whata described Witness C’s offending as ‘‘an egregious wrongdoing that must be denounced’’.

Justice Whata added Witness C had shown no signs of remorse, and appeared to have a ‘‘longstanding contempt for the law and the judicial process’’.

He revoked the name suppression granted to Witness C at the 1990 trial, but issued an interim suppression order pending proceedings at the Court of Appeal. Tamihere in court

David Tamihere sat surrounded by supporters in the court’s public gallery as Witness C was sentenced.

Speaking outside court, Tamihere said he hoped the sentencing would help overthrow his own murder convictions.

‘‘Since I’ve been convicted the Crown’s case just keeps falling apart,’’ he said.

Tamihere said he would never stop fighting to clear his name – ’’not until they bury me I suppose. And then if I’m lucky someone else will carry it on after that.’’

Human rights lawyer Richard Francois, speaking for the prosecution, had urged Justice Whata to impose the maximum jail sentence of 14 years.

Witness C retorted from the dock when Francois suggested he was in good physical health and worked out at the gym.

‘‘No I don’t,’’ Witness C said. ‘‘You’re lying!’’

Defence counsel Adam Simperingham told the court Witness C had been subjected to violence behind bars, and urged the judge to take that into account in sentencing.

Gave evidence

While in prison, Witness C gave evidence at Tamihere’s double murder trial in 1990 saying Tamihere had confessed to him he’d killed the Swedish couple while they were tramping on the Coromandel Peninsula in 1989.

He was one of three jailhouse witnesses who told the jury Tamihere had confessed to the murders.

Witness C also said Tamihere had told him he sexually assaulted Paakkonen over a three-day period before killing her.

However, 10 months after Tamihere’s conviction, Hoglin’s remains were discovered in the Coromandel in 1991 by pig hunters about 70km from where the murders were alleged to have taken place.

His watch was found with him – contradicting Witness C’s evidence.

Paakkonen’s remains have never been found.

Following Tamihere’s conviction, Witness C recanted his evidence saying he had made up the evidence after striking a deal with police.

Tamihere was released from prison on parole in November 2010 despite objections from police, who argued he should not be freed until he revealed the site of Paakkonen’s body.

Last year, jailhouse lawyer Arthur Taylor brought a private prosecution against Witness C.

A two-week jury trial in September resulted in Witness C being found guilty on eight counts of perjury.