Mike Kalaugher
Mike is a retired chartered accountant. He is an experienced sailor and was surprised by the conviction of Scott Watson for murder. He investigated that case and wrote the book “The Marlborough Mystery”. He has assisted with two major documentaries on that case. In 2004 he presented a petition to Parliament asking for a Commission of Inquiry into the case, accompanied by Guy Wallace, Roz McNeilly and Ted and Yvonne Walsh, plus Lon Rose a lawyer from Innocence Canada who had endorsed Scott’s case.
His disbelief in the case against Scott Watson and his study of the factors leading to wrongful convictions led him to take an interest in other cases of wrongful conviction. He has had varying degrees of involvement with the following cases: Rex Haig, David Tamihere, Stephen Hudson, Kevin Harmer, Mark Lundy, Quinton Winders and Jeremy McLaughlin.
He worked with Arthur Taylor to successfully prosecute Roberto Conchie Harris for his perjury as a jailhouse informant at the trial of David Tamihere and to get Harris’ name suppression lifted. Taylor and Kalaugher also successfully sought the lifting of name suppression of another jailhouse informant at the trial of David Tamihere namely Stephen Kapa. Legal proceedings are ongoing about further lifting of name suppression of the third jailhouse informant in the Tamihere case.
The prosecution of Harris and the petition of Justice For All Inc has facilitated further developments. The Solicitor-General has now issued guidelines for prosecutors on using jailhouse informants and the NZ Law Commission has proposed major law changes.
Susani Gebhardt
My name is Susani and I am a community-minded, family-oriented individual who has always been guided by a strong sense of justice, fairness, and compassion for others. Throughout my life, I have believed that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and this belief has shaped both my personal values and my involvement within the community.
I immigrated to New Zealand in 1999, beginning a new chapter filled with opportunities, challenges, and growth. The experience of building a life in a new country strengthened my resilience and deepened my appreciation for the importance of community support and inclusion. New Zealand has become my home, and I am grateful for the relationships, experiences, and opportunities that have helped shape who I am today.
Family is at the heart of everything I do. I am happily married and the proud mother of three boys, who continue to inspire me every day. Raising a family has taught me the value of patience, empathy, hard work, and leading by example. I believe that strong families create strong communities, and I strive to contribute positively wherever I can.
My passion for fairness and equal opportunity led me to become part of Justice For All in 2023. Being involved in this organization allows me to support causes that reflect my long-held belief in justice, accountability, and standing up for what is right. I value the opportunity to work alongside others who share a commitment to creating positive change and ensuring that all voices are heard.
Beyond my community involvement, I enjoy maintaining a balanced and active lifestyle. In my free time, I have a great love for music,
I also enjoy sport and the sense of teamwork, discipline, and wellbeing that it encourages. Sport has taught me the importance of perseverance, supporting others, and celebrating both individual and collective achievements.
Overall, I am someone who values community, family, integrity, and justice. I believe in treating people with kindness, standing up for what is right, and contributing positively to the world around me. My journey from immigrating to New Zealand, to raising a family, to becoming actively involved in justice-focused community work has reinforced my commitment to making a meaningful difference wherever I can.
Lois McGirr
How I joined Justice For All Incorporated
After watching Yvonne Mackay’s documentary Doubt, I was stunned by the injustice of the Scott Watson case. My confidence in our justice system was shattered. Seeing a miscarriage of justice leap from the screen, I realized that Scott Watson was stitched up by an appalling police investigation—one that created three victims: Scott, Olivia Hope, and Ben Smart.
Motivated to learn more, I joined Neville Munro’s Free Scott Watson Facebook page and read Mike White’s North and South articles. As I delved deeper, I discovered other wrongful conviction cases. My determination to address our flawed justice system only grew. At that time, three thousand people were on the Free Scott Watson page. Despite the lively discussions about Scott’s case and wider issues with police investigations, there was little practical direction.
It became clear to me that any of us—simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time—could end up before the court. We are all vulnerable to a wrongful conviction. This was a frightening and grim reality.
I was delighted to discover Janice Brewer on the Facebook page; we both wanted to do more than just talk, and she also lived in North Canterbury. Another friend, Christine Knowles, a former Rolleston Prison chaplain, and her husband Allan, shared our conviction that Scott was wrongfully convicted and that we needed to unite to be effective. Christine and Allan invited Janice, her daughter Amiee, and me to their home to discuss a plan. We considered forming a structure that would carry legal weight and be heard by authorities.
We agreed to form an incorporated society with a constitution to which we could invite others. The first question was the name. Christine suggested Justice For All. Sometimes the first suggestion is the best—Justice For All Incorporated was born. On April 27th, 2017, we received our certificate of incorporation.
justiceforallinc 