Peter Williams (lawyer) explained

Honorific Prefix:Sir
Peter Williams
Birth Name:Peter Alderidge Williams
Birth Date:1 December 1934
Birth Place:Ohakune, New Zealand
Death Place:Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation:Lawyer, writer
Spouse:Heeni Phillips-Williams

Sir Peter Alderidge Williams (1 December 1934 – 9 June 2015) was a New Zealand barrister and penal reform advocate. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1987.

Biography

Williams was born in 1934 and educated at Feilding High School.[1] He graduated from the University of New Zealand at Auckland in 1960.[2] A noted defence lawyer, Williams represented high-profile clients including Terry Clark, Ronald Jorgensen, Arapeta Awatere and Winston Peters, and was involved in having the conviction of Arthur Allan Thomas for the murders of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe overturned.[3] During his 60-year career, he appeared in over 100 murder trials.[4]

Williams was a long-time advocate for the humane treatment of prisoners in New Zealand, and served as the head of the New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform.[5] He was the foundation president of the NZ Criminal Bar Association.[1] Williams was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1987. In 1990, he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal,[1] and in the 2015 New Year Honours Williams was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the law.[6] A private investiture was held at his home on 11 April 2015, as it was feared he might not live until the scheduled investiture on 6 May 2015 at Government House in Auckland.[7] [8] He died from prostate cancer at his home in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby on 9 June 2015, survived by his wife, Lady Heeni Phillips-Williams.[9]

Published works

Williams wrote a number of books including:

Notes and References

  1. Taylor . Alister . New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 . New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa . 2001 . Alister Taylor Publishers . Auckland . 1172-9813.
  2. Web site: NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Wi–Z . 11 April 2015.
  3. News: Knighthood for Peter Williams QC in New Year Honours . 31 December 2014 . New Zealand Herald . 11 April 2015 . Kelly . Dennett.
  4. News: Gibson. Nevil. New Year Honours: Penal law reformer Peter Williams QC among eight Knights, two Dames. 12 June 2015. National Business Review.
  5. Web site: The Howard League for Penal Reform . 13 July 2012 . Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . 11 April 2015.
  6. Web site: New Year honours list 2015 . 31 December 2014 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . 13 January 2018.
  7. News: Hurley. Bevan. Ceremony urgency for ailing knight Sir Peter Williams. 12 June 2015. The Sunday Star-Times. 22 March 2015.
  8. News: Lowery. Sophie. Peter Williams QC's knighthood brought forward. 12 June 2015. 3 News. 11 Apr 2015.
  9. News: Sir Peter Williams QC dies aged 80 . 9 June 2015 . New Zealand Herald . 9 June 2015.

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