Alarm as notorious killer writes to juror

George Baker is serving an 18-year jail term for murdering teenager Liam Ashley. Photo / Dean Purcell

One of New Zealand's most notorious killers allegedly contacted a woman on the jury that found him guilty this month of kidnapping.

The incident has led to calls for law changes to protect jurors, and Justice Minister Simon Power will meet his officials this morning to discuss it.

"The minister is aware of the issue and he is concerned about it," a spokesman said last night.

George Baker, who is serving an 18-year jail term for murdering teenager Liam Ashley, was found guilty on August 2 of kidnapping, threatening to kill and assault with an offensive weapon.

He had taken an elderly inmate hostage with a weapon at Auckland Prison in Paremoremo last year and tried to kidnap a jailer.

However, during his trial in the Auckland District Court, a female juror was discharged midway through.

The middle-aged married woman contacted police after receiving a letter signed with Baker's name at her Auckland home, One News reported last night.

He allegedly sent the letter after getting her contact details from a list of jurors' names, addresses and occupations. It is understood the letter had romantic overtures and was not threatening.

Baker was entitled to see the list under supervision because he represented himself in court.

At the time, the reason for the juror's discharge was not revealed.

Two Auckland criminal lawyers said last night that the time had come to legislate to prevent a similar incident and to better protect jurors.

Gary Gotlieb said anyone facing a trial was given a list of around 200 names of potential jurors to look through in case they knew someone on it or lived in the same neighbourhood.

"It's about six or seven pages and you only get it for about five minutes."

He said addresses should be taken off the list, in order to further protect potential jurors.

It was most likely Baker memorised the woman's details at random, he said, but he also acknowledged the possibility that the defendant had got a hold of a copy and jotted down her details.

"In this case, what he wrote was something like, 'Hi, I like you'. It's pretty silly but it is scary - given he's signed his name," Mr Gotlieb said.

Barrister Shane Tait of Manukau agreed, but also called for laws relating to defendants who represented themselves.

"I think the situation wouldn't have happened if he was legally represented. That might be where the law needs to be changed.

"It may be that things need to be changed so that there is a middle-man - between the client and the jury - to make sure nothing like this happens and so they can't see the [jury] list."

Police and the Corrections Department are investigating.