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Minister of Justice Judith Collins. - Source: ONE News
Ewen Macdonald and Scott Guy. - Source: ONE News -
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Justice Minister Judith Collins says there is no need to change the law around the disclosure of previous criminal records in court trials.
The issue has come into the spotlight after suppression orders on charges faced by Ewen Macdonald lapsed on Wednesday.
Macdonald, who was acquitted last month of murdering his brother-in-law Scott Guy, has admitted a number of other charges which the jury in his murder case were not told about.
The case has brought renewed criticism of the suppression of criminal records that do not directly relate to a trial. Some argue the jury should have been disclosed the full extent of the charges Macdonald had confessed to even though they were not connected to the murder case.
However, Collins said juries usually make the right decisions so there is no need to change the law.
"I don't believe there's a great political will to change it," she said.
"The system that we have is not perfect, but it's significantly better than most."
Collins said she did not see huge support for changing the system.
During the trial it was revealed Macdonald had admitted to setting fire to Scott and Kylee Guy's old house in 2008, the vandalism of their new home in 2009, and to poaching trophy stags from a nearby farm and burying the carcasses on the Guy property.
ONE News on Wednesday revealed the details of three other charges suppressed from the trial that Macdonald had previously admitted to.
Macdonald went into a cattle pen under the cover of darkness and killed 19 calves with what is believed to be a ball-peen hammer in August 2007.
He also admitted to destroying a vat of milk at a neighbouring farm the night before.
And a year later, he burned down a duck shooter's hut belonging to the same farmer.
While the offences are not connected with Guy's murder, Chanelle Bullock, sister of Guy's widow Kylee Guy, said yesterday it showed Macdonald's nature.
"Ewen Macdonald is a ticking timebomb and we should be very worried that this criminal will be out to live his life among us," Bullock said.
Macdonald is in custody waiting to be sentenced on the poaching, property damage and animal slaughter charges.