Fight for freedom: The murder of Arthur Easton and Alan Hall's wrongful conviction

A Moment In Crime

04-07-2022 • 30 mins

In October 1985 Arthur Easton was murdered in his Papakura family home.

Easton and his two teenage sons were attacked by a bayonet-wielding home invader.

The 52-year-old postal worker was stabbed in his liver during the frenzied attack and died of blood loss after emergency services arrived on the scene.

Alan Hall was convicted of murder in 1986 and spent 19 years in prison for the crime.

However Hall was not the person who killed Easton.

He maintained his innocence for almost four decades and in 2022 the Supreme Court finally quashed his conviction for murder.

The Crown accepted earlier this year in a submission to the Court that key evidence leading to the identity of the true attacker was "materially" altered, leading to a miscarriage of justice.

Today Herald senior journalist Anna Leask revisits the murder of Arthur Easton and the journey to justice for Alan Hall.

This episode of A Moment In Crime is a bonus episode.

While our usual monthly episodes look at cases that have gripped New Zealand's interest over the years, there are plenty of cases before the courts that I'm covering right now that warrant a deeper look.

From complex murder trials to the cases destined for infamy, these bonus episodes will show you what's really happening in your backyard - right now.

For more on the case visit:

Alan Hall: Murder conviction set to be quashed after decades, Crown acknowledges miscarriage of justice

Alan Hall's murder conviction officially quashed, compensation claim on the cards

Solicitor-General admits Alan Hall case 'significant miscarriage of justice', opens investigation into Crown conduct

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