For the first time, Police Commissioner Mike Bush has said Teina Pora is innocent and that he believes Malcolm Rewa acted alone in the rape and murder of Susan Burdett.
Until less than a month ago, police held the position that Mr Pora was a co-offender of Rewa.
Cmmr Bush said today that had changed.
"We accept he's innocent and there's no current investigation against Mr Pora, nor do we intend to have any investigation against Mr Pora," he said.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush (Simon Wong / Newshub.)
A report written by retired High Court judge Rodney Hansen QC found Mr Pora was innocent and deserved compensation.
It also found Rewa was most likely to have committed the murder, saying "undisputed evidence leads to the irresistible inference Malcolm Rewa acted alone and was solely responsible for the rape and murder of Ms Burdett".
Cmmr Bush said police accepted the report in full.
However, Cmmr Bush says police will not reopen the case because an internal review has shown "no new evidence" to lift the stay of proceedings against Rewa and charge him again.
Rewa has previously been charged with the murder but only got convicted of the rape.
The stay of proceedings can be lifted under "exceptional circumstances".
Cmmr Bush says the police legal advice is that Mr Pora's innocence being declared by the Government did not count as exceptional circumstances.
"I can tell you we have made efforts and at this stage that's the end of that matter."
When asked whether Rewa acted alone, Cmmr Bush said: "I believe so, we believe so, yes".
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says if police can prosecute Rewa, they should.
"I would like to see another trial where Susan Burdett's murderer is found, convicted and imprisoned for that crime."
But Police Minister Judith Collins says while what happened to Mr Pora was "a terrible tragedy", there are few avenues for authorities to prosecute Rewa.
"The Solicitor-General has to approve any prosecution and they won't do that unless they have evidence that is new evidence that can be used in court and police have indicated to you today there isn't that evidence at this stage."
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