27 Apr 2018

Witness C was 'recruited' - David Tamihere

From Morning Report, 7:18 am on 27 April 2018

David Tamihere, convicted for the murders of Swedish tourists Heidi Paakkonen and Sven Hoglin is calling for a rethink on the use of "jailhouse snitches". Roberto Conchie Harris - a convicted double murderer - was yesterday revealed to be Witness C. He was one of three inmates who gave evidence against Tamihere. His identity has been kept secret for almost 30 years. Harris' evidence at Tamihere's 1990 trial included claims Tamihere had confided in him, disclosing how he had sexually abused Swedish tourists Heidi Paakkonen and Sven Hoglin before murdering them. Tamihere was found guilty and was sentenced to life. He was paroled in 2010 and has always maintained his innocence. Last year Roberto Harris was convicted of giving false evidence in the trial. David Tamihere tells Susie Ferguson the secret witnesses had been hugely damaging to his case.