Thomas Thorp
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Murray Thorp KNZM
(born 1925) is a retired New Zealand
judge.
from 1979 until 1996, the year he was knighted.
He has served as chairman of the National Parole Board and has sat as a member of the Court of Appeal.
In 1997 he reviewed New Zealand's gun control measures
, and recommended that all firearms be registered.http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/1997/review-of-firearms-control/ He has also written a report into the David Bain
case in which he said he was satisfied with the trial verdict.
In 1999 he wrote a report into the Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis
case. Thorp expressed misgivings with aspects of the case. He could find no corroboration of the children's claims of sexual abuse. He said that section 23G of the Evidence Act should be repealed because it allowed an expert to say that there was no behaviour inconsistent with sexual abuse. His report recommended that the Justice Ministry obtain the opinion of Stephen J. Ceci
with regard to the children's evidence. The Ministry has ignored this and other recommendations from Thorp's report. His report contrasts with that written by Sir Thomas Eichelbaum
, which upheld Ellis's conviction.
In 2005 he published a book entitled Miscarriages of Justice. He researched 53 applications for the Royal prerogative of mercy
and found that at least 20 applicants may have been wrongly imprisoned.
He lives in Parnell
, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 1925) is a retired New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
judge.
Professional career
From 1963 to 1979, he was the Crown Solicitor in Gisborne. He sat as a judge in the High Court of New ZealandHigh Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
from 1979 until 1996, the year he was knighted.
He has served as chairman of the National Parole Board and has sat as a member of the Court of Appeal.
Post retirement
Since retiring as a judge, he has written reports into some controversial matters.In 1997 he reviewed New Zealand's gun control measures
Gun politics in New Zealand
About 230,000 licensed firearms owners own and use New Zealand's estimated 1.1 million firearms. Like in Australia, but unlike in the US and Canada, gun laws usually gain the support of both major parties before they are passed...
, and recommended that all firearms be registered.http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/1997/review-of-firearms-control/ He has also written a report into the David Bain
David Bain
David Cullen Bain is a New Zealander who featured in one of the country's most notable murder cases. He was convicted in May 1995 of the murders of his parents and siblings in Dunedin on 20 June 1994...
case in which he said he was satisfied with the trial verdict.
In 1999 he wrote a report into the Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis
Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis
Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis is a former Christchurch child care worker who has been at the centre of one of New Zealand's most enduring judicial controversies. In June 1993 Ellis was found guilty in the High Court on 16 counts of sexual offences involving children in his care at the Christchurch...
case. Thorp expressed misgivings with aspects of the case. He could find no corroboration of the children's claims of sexual abuse. He said that section 23G of the Evidence Act should be repealed because it allowed an expert to say that there was no behaviour inconsistent with sexual abuse. His report recommended that the Justice Ministry obtain the opinion of Stephen J. Ceci
Stephen J. Ceci
Stephen J. Ceci is an American psychologist at Cornell University. He studies the accuracy of children's courtroom testimony , and he is an expert in the development of intelligence and memory...
with regard to the children's evidence. The Ministry has ignored this and other recommendations from Thorp's report. His report contrasts with that written by Sir Thomas Eichelbaum
Thomas Eichelbaum
Sir Johann Thomas Eichelbaum, GBE, QC was the eleventh Chief Justice of New Zealand.-Early life:He was born in Königsberg, Germany, and his family emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand in 1938 to escape the persecution of Jews...
, which upheld Ellis's conviction.
In 2005 he published a book entitled Miscarriages of Justice. He researched 53 applications for the Royal prerogative of mercy
Prerogative of Mercy
In the British tradition the Prerogative of Mercy is one of the historic Royal Prerogatives of the British monarch in which he or she can grant pardons to convicted persons...
and found that at least 20 applicants may have been wrongly imprisoned.
He lives in Parnell
Parnell, New Zealand
Parnell is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is often billed as Auckland's "oldest suburb" since it dates from the earliest days of the European settlement of Auckland in 1841...
, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.