end of the investigation as other gang members were involved in Manning's death. A person of interest labelled "Male B" has not yet been identified but is likely connected to Fawcett and the murder. On 7 August 2017, the Court of Appeal quashed Fawcett's conviction and ordered a retrial. The reasons for the appeal were not publicly disclosed at the time to preserve the right to a fair trial. It was later revealed that the appeal was upheld on two grounds. Fawcett's amicus curiae lawyer, who had assisted him in his own defence, had put on defences that were inconsistent with Fawcett's blanket denial of involvement. In addition the Court of Appeal heard expert testimony that Fawcett met the criteria to be diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which had not been put before the High Court. The Court of Appeal ruled that had this evidence been available during his trial, it might have led to his interviews and admissions of guilty being ruled inadmissible or dismissed by the jury. In September 2021, High Court Justice Rachel Dunningham ruled Fawcett's statements inadmissible in a new trial as his foetal alcohol spectrum disorder "makes him an unreliable historian even when he is endeavouring to tell the truth". This led to the Crown agreeing to drop the murder charge and on 26 October 2021, Dunningham dismissed the case. Although the Crown had asked for it to be withdrawn under section 146 of the Criminal Procedure Act allowing them to relay the charge in the event of new evidence; this was rejected by the court. The dismissal means Fawcett can only be retried with leave of the Court of Appeal. References 1981 births 2008 deaths New Zealand murder victims People convicted of robbery People murdered in New Zealand December 2008 crimes New Zealand prostitutes 2008 murders in New Zealand Crime in Christchurch Overturned convictions in New Zealand Unsolved murders in New Zealand