Justice in doubt: The killing of Brian Hilton

In 2016, 77-year-old pensioner Brian Hilton was found on the floor of his Ōpōtiki home — brutally beaten, barely conscious, and covered in blood. He died five days later. Police launched a major homicide investigation, first zeroing in on one local man before turning their attention to another: Harry Matchitt.

A beer bottle found in Hilton’s lounge carried Matchitt’s DNA, and after a series of police interviews, the lifelong Mongrel Mob member made a hazy admission — saying he was “pissed” and may have “pushed and kicked” the elderly man. In 2021, a jury found him guilty of manslaughter.

But two years later, the Court of Appeal ruled his conviction unsafe. The judges found his statements to police likely inadmissible, meaning a miscarriage of justice had occurred. The conviction was quashed — and Matchitt walked free.

In this episode of A Moment in Crime, senior journalists Anna Leask and Jared Savage revisit the violent death of Brian Hilton, the conviction that fell apart, and what became of Matchitt after the case collapsed. Savage also reflects on two decades covering crime and justice, and his work investigating New Zealand’s gang world.

A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Leask — who specialises in crime and justice reporting. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 20 years. This episode was produced by Leask and NZME audio engineer Alastair Boyes.

If you have a crime or case you would like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz

Since 2019, A Moment in Crime has produced over 55 episodes and has been downloaded over 1 million times, with listeners in over 170 countries. It was nominated for Best True Crime Podcast at the 2024 Radio and Podcast Awards.

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Harry Matchitt’s conviction for manslaughter of Brian Hilton in Ōpōtiki cold case quashed, case thrown out after ‘false confession’ to police

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