A prison informant who gave evidence against convicted murderer David Tamihere is being sued for perjury.
Arthur Taylor in the High Court at Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The private prosecution is being brought by serial litigant and prison inmate Arthur Taylor, who said other potential informants needed to be warned against lying with impunity.
Convicted in 1990 of murdering two Swedish tourists, Tamihere spent 20 years in jail but has always protested his innocence.
In a statement recorded from prison, Arthur Taylor said though he had never met Tamihere, he had evidence that a witness in his trial had lied.
"I'm bringing this prosecution to try and restore some integrity to the criminal justice system in this case," he said.
"I want the message to get out there to those that are tempted by the considerable inducements on offer by the police - and they include helping the prisoner regain his freedom, which is priceless - and although the police might not prosecute them if they're caught giving false evidence, someone like me might come along."
Taylor has filed papers in the Auckland District Court and is waiting to find out if there will be a trial.
A private crime researcher, Mike Kalaugher, helped him lodge the papers.
"Before this, nobody has actually brought a reasonable case against a jailhouse informant for perjury. I think it's been in the 'too-hard basket'."
He said the informant was currently in prison.
Police said they acknowledged the private prosecution and had no comment other than that the evidence in Tamihere's case had already been heard by several courts.