Doubt cast over CTV decision
CHRISTCHURCH: New information has been revealed by CTV families that could cast doubt on the decision not to lay criminal charges over the building’s collapse.
The sixstorey office block pancaked in the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, killing 115 people.
Late last year, following a threeyear police investigation, it was decided no charges would be laid against the engineers who designed it due to a lack of evidence.
CTV families spokesman Maan Alkaisi said the new information was revealed to him and other family members during their meeting with deputy solicitorgeneral Brendon Horsley last December after the decision not to prosecute was taken.
The families put it to Mr Horsley that the owner of the firm that designed the office block, Alan Reay, had been told on two occasions — in 1986 and 1990 — that the building had major deficiencies in its design that made it prone to collapsing in an earthquake.
Both times, this advice was either ignored or did not result in effective remedies being taken, Mr Alkaisi said.
When these points were made to Mr Horsley he looked surprised and said he had not been told about it by Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh or inquiry head Superintendent Peter Read.
Mr Alkaisi, who was making notes during the meeting, said the deputy solicitorgeneral then told the families the information ‘‘could be used to press charges . . . for negligence’’.
The CTV families have sent signed affidavits to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Attorneygeneral David Parker calling for a review of the decision not to prosecute.
A spokesman for the deputy solicitorgeneral said Crown Law would need to consider the families’ claims before deciding whether to comment.
Police said they, too, would need time before deciding whether to comment.
There has been no response from Mr Parker’s office. — RNZ