Stephen Stone was convicted of the murders of Deane Fuller-Sandys and Leah Stephens. Photo: Supplied
The lawyer for a man aquitted of murder after almost three decades in prison wants a public inquiry into police handling of the case.
Stephen Stone was acquitted at the Auckland High Court on Wednesday for the murder of West Auckland tyre-fitter Deane Fuller-Sandys and the rape and murder of Leah Stephens.
It followed the acquittal of three other defendants in October last year.
Both the police and the police watchdog have begun a review of the original investigation, but police said new homicide investigations were still being considered.
Stone's lawyer Annabel Maxwell-Scott said an inquiry needed to happen.
"You've got four defendants wrongly convicted, and imprisoned in two cases, and you've got two families and their loved ones basically who've been given a completely false narrative.
"And you've got police conduct, which we say is reprehensible and engineered those convictions."
She said although the acquittal looked like the end-point it was really just the beginning and along with pushing for an inquiry, Stone would also be seeking compensation.
Both the Justice and Police ministers declined to comment in response to RNZ's questions about a public inquiry.
In a statement to RNZ, Detective Superintendent Uraia Vakaruru said an internal investigation into police's handling of the case was already underway and it would run alongside a separate investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
"It's important that we allow due process to be followed and for these investigations to be carried out thoroughly."
He said police would consider the findings of those investigations before taking any further steps.
Vakaruru said police were still looking into whether they would reinvestigate the deaths of Deane Fuller-Sandys and Leah Stephens.
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