A retired High Court judge will assess Teina Pora's compensation claim over his wrongful conviction and imprisonment.
Teina Pora Photo: RNZ
Mr Pora spent more than 20 years in prison for the rape and murder of Auckland woman Susan Burdett before his conviction was quashed by the Privy Council in March.
No retrial was ordered, paving the way for Mr Pora to apply for compensation, which he did in April.
Justice Minister Amy Adams said his claim merits further assessment and she has appointed former High Court judge Rodney Hansen to consider it.
Mr Hansen will determine whether Mr Pora can prove he is innocent on the balance of probabilities, which would be a prerequisite for compensation.
Ms Adams said Mr Hansen's distinguished legal career, which includes presiding over several high-profile criminal cases, made him well-placed to consider the claim objectively.
