The investigation into the disappearance of Urban Höglin and Heidi Paakkonen raised questions about witness identification and police procedures, leading to an unsuccessful appeal to the Privy Council.
The prosecution struggled to find concrete evidence linking David Tamihere to the disappearance and alleged murder of the couple, with witness testimonies having inconsistencies and doubts about identification procedures.
Multiple witnesses provided testimonies and confessions implicating David Tamihere in the disappearance and murder of Urban Höglin and Heidi Paakkonen, forming a crucial part of the prosecution's case.
Deep dives
Case File: Disappearance of Urban Hoglen and Hyde Pakinan
In 1989, Swedish couple Urban Hoglen and Hyde Pakinan went missing in New Zealand during their trip. The last known communication from them was a letter sent home on April 7th. An eyewitness encountered a couple matching their description at Crosbie's Clearing campsite, but there were discrepancies in the testimonies and no physical evidence connecting the couple to David Tamahari, the prime suspect. Tamahari was ultimately convicted of stealing the couple's car but denied any involvement in their disappearance. Multiple inmate testimonies implicated Tamahari, but their stories had inconsistencies. The case raised questions about witness identification and police procedures, leading to an unsuccessful appeal to the Privy Council. The investigation remained open until Hyde Pakinan's body was found.
Challenges in the Prosecution's Narrative
The prosecution struggled to find concrete evidence linking David Tamahari to the disappearance and alleged murder of Urban Hoglen and Hyde Pakinan. Witness testimonies, including that of John Cassidy and Mel North, were key to establishing a physical connection but had inconsistencies and questions about identification procedures. The timeline of events conflicted with accounts from other witnesses who claimed to have seen the couple after John and Mel's alleged sighting. Inmate testimonies were also contested for their variations and potential prejudice. The discovery of Urban's body lacked blood evidence and raised doubts about Tamahari's guilt. David Tamahari's family and defense team believed that a miscarriage of justice had occurred.
Continued Investigation and Retractment of Testimony
Despite David Tamahari's conviction, investigators kept the case open until Hyde Pakinan's body was found. In 1995, a jailhouse informant contacted Tamahari's brother, John Tamahari, retracting his previous testimony and claiming that detectives had coerced and offered incentives for false statements. He provided a sworn affidavit detailing the alleged manipulation. The retractions raised concerns about the evidence presented against David Tamahari and the validity of the conviction. However, his appeals were ultimately rejected, including an attempt to appeal to the Privy Council.
Witness testimonies and confessions
Multiple witnesses provided testimonies and confessions implicating David Tameheri in the disappearance and murder of Urban Hoglen and Hyde Pakenan. Witness A claimed that Tameheri revealed details of the attack, rape, and killing of the couple. Witness B recounted Tameheri boasting about cutting up the bodies. Witness C provided a comprehensive account of the crimes, including the rape, murder, and disposal of the bodies at sea. The prosecution relied heavily on these testimonies in building their case.
Controversies and lingering mysteries
The case against David Tameheri has been met with controversies and unanswered questions. Some critics argue that the lack of physical evidence and heavy reliance on circumstantial evidence raises doubts about his guilt. Others suggest alternative suspects, such as George Fawley, who resembled Tameheri and was known to be in the area at the time. The case took a further twist when witness testimonies were retracted due to concerns of forced confessions and perjury. The mystery of Hyde Pakenan's body, which has never been found, continues to haunt the community, with occasional discoveries of potential evidence leading to renewed searches.
When Swedish backpackers Urban Höglin and Heidi Paakkonen go missing during a camping trip around New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula, concerns are quickly raised that the newly engaged couple could have fallen victim to foul play. Worries increase once it’s discovered that convicted killer, David Tamihere, was on the loose in the area at the time, having jumped bail on a rape charge.
