8 May 2013

Law change mooted about alert on previous convictions

9:27 am on 8 May 2013

Justice Minister Judith Collins is considering changing the law so police can alert a person's family or partner to their criminal past.

The move follows the conviction of Jeremy McLaughlin, 35, for murdering Jade Bayliss, 13, in Christchurch in 2011.

Police were unable to tell Jade's mother about McLaughlin's previous manslaughter conviction for killing a boy, aged 14, in Australia in 1997 due to privacy laws.

The minister's office says Ms Collins is considering changing the law to prevent a similar case happening.