Arthur Allan Thomas has described the man whose actions helped put him behind bars as a corrupt cop who criminalised the police force.
Mr Thomas was twice convicted of murdering Jeanette and Harvey Crewe in 1970, before being pardoned and paid $1 million in compensation after it was found that officers had planted evidence.
Arthur Allan Thomas. Photo: RNZ
The head of the murder investigation, Bruce Hutton, died two weeks ago and at his funeral was remembered by Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Bush as an officer whose integrity was beyond reproach.
For the first time in nearly a decade, Arthur Allan Thomas on Wednesday spoke publicly about Bruce Hutton, saying the eulogy shocked, dismayed and disgusted him because a Royal Commission found that Mr Hutton had planted evidence that led to his conviction.
"We have a police system now that don't want to look at who done it - oh no. What they're doing now is protecting their own, covering up for their own. And this is New Zealand - I'm ashamed that we have this system of cover up, cover up."
The 75-year-old said Mr Bush doesn't know enough about the case.
"That Bush wants to go back to the evidence and read the evidence. There's plenty of books, there's plenty of evidence to read - it's factual that Hutton planted evidence. So he should do that - not open his big mouth. He doesn't know nothing about the facts of this matter."
Mr Thomas said it frustrating that Bruce Hutton was never charged and the Deputy Police Commissioner's comments leave huge question marks over a review underway of the police investigation.
He has asked that Police Commissioner Peter Marshall formally retract his deputy's comments, admit that police planted evidence and apologise.
Arthur Allan Thomas says police should not be conducting their own review, because they won't want to criticise their own. He believes it is a waste of taxpayer money, but says he remains hopeful that it will recommend a few things.
"They'd have to admit that they'd fabricated evidence, and I expect then apologise to me in writing. But they won't do that - I know that."
Mr Thomas believes he knows who killed the Crewes, but won't say who that is. He says police have enough evidence - and it is his biggest wish that they finally reveal who did kill the couple 43 years ago.
Police have defended the eulogy, saying Mike Bush's integrity remark was a quote from Bruce Hutton's boss three years before the Crewe murders took place.
In a statement on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Peter Marshall said it is normal for police to pay their respects at funerals of former colleagues and it is disappointing that some think that may have an impact on the review of the investigation.
