Capill could be struck off by Law Society

Convicted paedophile and former Christian Heritage Party leader Graham Capill faces being struck off as a lawyer after a complaint to the Law Society.

Capill, 46, a former police prosecutor, is serving a jail term in for sex offences against three girls aged between five and 11 over a period coinciding with his time as Christian Heritage leader.

He pleaded guilty to charges of rape, unlawful sexual connection and indecent assault and was sentenced to nine years concurrently, with no minimum parole parole period.

Canterbury District Law Society president Geoff Brodie confirmed today an official complaint had been received about Capill.

Mr Brodie said the complaint would be investigated by a statutory complaints committee.

He would not reveal who or what organisation had laid the complaint, saying the law society must maintain strict confidentiality throughout the investigation.

"If justified, a complaints committee can lay charges in either a district disciplinary tribunal or the New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. Both of those tribunals have jurisdiction to impose sanctions, if justified," Mr Brodie said.

Lawyers could be struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors in the most serious cases.

Mr Brodie said the complaints procedure could be a "complicated and lengthy process" with lawyers having the right to appeal decisions to the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

"A straightforward matter could resolve itself within three months or so," he said.

Meanwhile, Capill has appealed against his sentence, claiming it was "manifestly excessive", and that hearing is scheduled to take place on February 15.

It was revealed during Capill's court case in Christchurch that he had emailed friends saying that sex with one of his young victims was consensual and asking them to pray for a lenient sentence.

Capill attracted further attention last month when a letter he wrote to prison officials complaining about his treatment in jail was leaked to the media.

- NZPA