CLARIFICATION

It was reported on Friday that Justice Teresa Berrigan in sentencing James Paru for the murder of John Hulse, said that the murder was justified. She said no such thing. There was no justification for the killing. Nor did the offender say that he killed John Hulse as a favour to Taita Pritchard. He claimed self-defence which Justice Berrigan rejected. Whilst considering that a life sentence may have been appropriate Justice Berrigan imposed a sentence of 30 years having regard to a number of factors, including that was the sentence imposed following the first trial.