Criminal Prosecution

The public interest is at the heart of our work, whether we are acting under the warrant or providing advice and advocacy to government agencies and Crown entities.

From day one our litigators are exposed to cases under the Crown warrant. They understand the gravity of criminal prosecutions and the need to seek justice for victims as well as defendants, to prevent repeat victimisation and to ensure accountability.

Our people work closely with investigators across the public sector and contribute independent judgment informed by MC’s unparalleled record of litigation work and public service.

With the exception of a small number of cases prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, MC prosecutes all serious crime committed from Wellsford to Panmure.

MC prosecutors are at the helm of the most complex and high-profile criminal litigation in New Zealand, including:

• Numerous homicides, including the murders of Grace Millane and Conor Morris
• Colin Mitchell, the Riverhead Quarry rapist
• Stewart Murray Wilson, the “Beast of Blenheim”
• The Dome Valley kidnapping and torture case
• Numerous profit-driven drug cases, such as “Operation Ark” (the “designer drug” case in which the Supreme Court clarified the mens rea for drug offending); “Operation Sylvester” (a prosecution of several prominent members of the Head Hunters)
• Cases of corruption such as Stephen Borlase and Murray Noone
• Almost all of the prosecutions arising from post-GFC failed finance companies
• Significant Financial Markets Authority prosecutions