Ex-RSL boss cleared as police probe lawyer's death

By Jock Anderson

Friday 9th November 2001

Former failed and jailed Auckland businessman and struck-off lawyer David Logan Samuel, of RSL notoriety, said this week he had been cleared of any involvement in the Paraquat cocktail suicide 13 years ago of quadraplegic lawyer Michael Crew.

The file into Mr Crew's death was reopened by Auckland police several months ago following approaches by David Searle, a former business partner of Mr Samuel's who alleged Mr Samuel had admitted to him that he assisted Mr Crew's suicide.

Mr Samuel (54) was jailed in 1991 for three-and-a-half years for fraud and perjury following his involvement in the collapse of contributory mortgage company Registered Securities (RSL). RSL group, involving 8000 investors, came under considerable pressure at the end of 1987 and collapsed losing tens of millions of dollars.

Mr Samuel and Mr Crew (36), a prominent Auckland lawyer who killed himself in 1988 by drinking the weedkiller, were close friends.

The colourful and respected Mr Crew was left a quadraplegic after diving into shallow water while on holiday in Fiji in 1987.

He returned to work in a wheelchair but, devastated and frustrated by his inability to do simple tasks, talked often of suicide before taking his own life by drinking Paraquat in his Shortland St office in August 1988.

In a story published in Metro in April 1989, journalist Deborah Coddington, a friend of Mr Crew, said he somehow managed to acquire commercial strength Paraquat, covering his tracks completely so the police were unable in their investigation to find a suspect.

Mr Samuel said this week he had nothing to do with Mr Crew's death and the allegations by Mr Searle were "completely wrong."

Mr Samuel said the police had looked into the allegations. "I have been interviewed by the police and the indication has been to me that they intend taking it no further."

Mr Samuel said he was extremely irritated, embarrassed and concerned that Mr Searle had adopted a "totally unwarranted and unfair" course. "It's a figment of his imagination," he said.

RSL group collapsed about the same time Mr Crew died.

Jailing Mr Samuel in 1991, Justice Noel Anderson accepted that his actions in trying to salvage the business were activated by pride and anxiety, not by personal greed.

Commenting that criminal sanction could not be imposed for civil wrongs, Justice Anderson said Mr Samuel was not being sentenced for the collapse and losses of the RSL investors.

After his release from prison Mr Samuel, a discharged bankrupt, set about rebuilding his life and establishing new career options.

In 1998, the Real Estate Institute failed in a bid to block him becoming a real estate salesman on the grounds he was not a fit and proper person.

The Real Estate Agents Licensing Board, which considered Mr Samuel had worked positively to restore his previous good character and had made every effort to put his criminal convictions in the past, said he was fit to be a real estate salesman.

He worked for Ponsonby Real Estate until March this year when the Real Estate Agents Licensing Board said he relinquished his salesman's certificate.

Detective senior sergeant Julian Rinckes confirmed police reopened the file on Mr Crew's death and had considered statements provided by Mr Searle and another person.

Det Sgt Kevin Hooper said an investigation was still under way into the allegations but neither he nor the officer dealing with the file, detective Duncan Bull, would make any comment.

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