TV con-man weds in prison ceremony

By LOUISA CLEAVE

Convicted fraudster John Davy has married his partner, Josephine, in Mt Eden Prison.

The man who conducted the service, David Warren, said it was "a rather lovely" ceremony on Thursday in the prison chapel.

Mr Warren declined to discuss details of the wedding or why the pair had decided to get married in jail.

Davy was sentenced on May 29 to eight months in prison for making up qualifications that won him the job as Maori Television's chief executive.

A High Court judge reduced the term to six months following an appeal hearing on June 7.

Davy was expected to be released on August 20 or 21 and immediately deported, said his lawyer, Kahu Barron-Afeaki.

A Department of Corrections spokeswoman said last night that special arrangements could be made to marry in prison, but she was unable to provide details of Davy's union.

Davy spent six weeks in the Maori Television job before the Herald revealed he had lied about his background and qualifications.

When he was appointed, Davy told reporters he was married and had two children.

He later told police investigating the fraud complaint that he was not married.

The teenage children belong to his partner and live in the Philippines.

A friend of the couple in Manila told the Herald that the children lived with Mrs Davy's family in a rural area in the north of the country.

He said the couple visited the children as often as possible when they lived in Manila.

Full coverage: Maori TV