NZ Judge Finds PM Blair Guilty

  Retired NZ Supreme Court judge Ted Thomas has published an article condemning outgoing British PM Tony Blair for his “immoral and illegal” invasion of Iraq. The essay, which is written as a judicial investigation, was published in British journal The Spokesman this month. In it, Thomas argues that Blair deliberately deceived the British public and parliament over the war, and invaded Iraq without legal basis. “As extreme as it sounds,” he writes, “it is difficult to resist the conclusion that, should he be prosecuted at a time when the plea of sovereign immunity is not available, Mr Blair would be found guilty of a war crime.” Despite being a self-described “political eunuch”, Thomas has never been shy of tackling politically controversial cases. Highlights of his legal career include successfully taking out an injunction to stop the All Blacks touring South Africa in 1985 and helping Greenpeace obtain damages against the French government for sinking the Rainbow Warrior. He retired from the bar last year but continues to preside over ongoing cases.