Picture: Garth McVicar:
"SST backs campaign by victim’s husband."

RSA MURDERS SET TO MAKE LEGAL HISTORY

December 8, 1991 started out as a normal day for Mary Hobson, Wayne Johnson, William Absolum and Susan Couch but ended in a tragedy with three of them dead and Susan Couch fighting for her life. As the circumstances surrounding that day gradually unfolded the true horror of what happened inside the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA clubrooms became known, the grief and anger and outpouring of sympathy for the families involved could be heard and felt nation wide.

Police worked furiously and six days later William Bell, who was on parole, was arrested for one of this country’s most callous killings. Bell was later found guilty, his non-parole period of 30 years made legal history in New Zealand as the longest minimum sentence ever handed down.

Bell - RSA murders set to make history for a second time!

Tai Hobson, Mary’s husband, has lodged proceedings against the Attorney-General in a ground breaking case that has the potential to change the direction of New Zealand’s justice and parole systems.

Exemplary damages of 5 million dollars are being asked for, but Tai realises that no amount of money can ease his family’s pain and suffering. His goal is firstly to bring to account those responsible for the mismanagement of Bell’s parole, and secondly to change our justice and parole system so that other New Zealanders will not experience the horror those involved in the RSA killings have. While it is a well-known fact that offenders on parole are committing many of our more horrific murders, it is believed this case has the ability to establish a legal and moral precedent.

Criminals’ rights?

Most New Zealanders will recall Attorney- General Margaret Wilson paying $80,000.00 to each of three criminals who alleged their human rights had been breached when they accused prison guards of treating them cruelly? In that situation the Attorney-General paid the damages without even allowing the case to be contested in court!

Criminals’ rights yet again?

In a recent High Court case in Wellington Justice Young has ruled that a group of criminals including a convicted murderer are able to claim damages from the Corrections Dept. for their being mistreated while in prison. The criminals’ defence lawyer, Tony Ellis, argued that his clients had been subjected to a serious breach of their “human rights”. One of the criminals is convicted murderer Christopher Taunoa who brutally gunned down publican Hugh Lynch in 1996.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust totally supports Tai Hobson in his attempt to redefine “human rights” as being rights entitled to law-abiding citizens. The actions of William Bell and many other killers must surely disqualify them from entitlement to the rights you and I enjoy.

Continued in right hand column >>>

National Office : PO Box 701 NAPIER Phone (06) 835 5521 Fax (06) 835 5520 National Chairman : Garth McVicar (025) 248 7919

OUR CAMPAIGN, OUR PLEDGE, OUR SONG

Campaign to abolish parole for violent criminals and sex offenders

Following the Sensible Sentencing Trust’s presentation to the Napier City Council on March 10 the Trust launched its campaign to abolish parole for violent criminals and sex offenders.

SST believes this category of offender should serve their full Judge given sentence. This would give rehabilitation programmes time to work and offenders should then be released with conditions that would assist with their reintegration into society. Another aspect is the public would not be deceived with regards to sentencing.

Example: how many times do we read that an offender has been sentenced to prison for 6 or maybe 9 years, believing this was a just sentence? Only to learn they are walking our streets in 2 or 3 years. It was a backward step when the 2002 Parole Act allowed offenders to apply for parole after serving only one third of their sentence.

We believe this was due to economic reasons. SST would rather see tax-paid dollars spent protecting society from these criminals and enforcing the Judge’s sentence. After all, Judges spend days or weeks on deliberations, listening to all aspects of the crime before making a sentence they deem appropriate to fit the crime. SST believes the Parole Board should not have the power to determine the ultimate length of sentence a criminal serves, especially for violent crime and sex offences.

Public poll unanimous

Interestingly after the Trust’s presentation to the Napier City Council which created a lot of media attention, the regional newspaper Hawke’s Bay Today ran an opinion poll. There was 100% support to abolish parole for violent criminals and sex offenders. It is extremely rare to have an opinion poll so unanimous.

Picture: Victims of Murder (from left) Belinda Reaney, Rowene Marsh-Potaka and Kelly Piggott with SST founder Garth McVicar at the parole abolition launch in Napier.

Photo: HB Today Newspaper

Newsletter No : 11, May 2004

SST VISION : A PATRIOTIC CRIME FREE NEW ZEALAND

This Issue

Our campaign, our pledge, our song

Phil Goff explains parole

SST getting results

Victims mothers disgusted

Napier City Council makes history

Child killer released

Flowers

Letters to the Editor

Calendar

Law and Order Meeting
With Don Brash

A THANK YOU from our webmaster

Prize holiday up for grabs

Or Victim Rights?

The Crown is in an extremely difficult position. It pays legal aid to criminals to sue the Corrections Dept. and pays them thousands in damages, yet the same Crown has applied to have this case by a grieving husband who had his wife murdered thrown out of court!!

Parole for violent criminals and sex offenders should be abolished.

We congratulate the team lawyers headed by Barrister David Garrett of Auckland and Keith Jefferies of Wellington who are assisting Tai Hobson to bring this “Breach of Parole” action to Auckland High Court on May 17th. Every decent law-abiding, tax-paying New Zealander is 100% behind you. Go for it guys!!

Garth

CREATING OUR SONG:

“Enough is Enough”

The purpose of this song is to create greater public awareness to the plight of victims and to strengthen their rights. We are so proud of Kelly Piggott and Rowene Marsh-Potaka who have written, composed and sing the Sensible Sentencing Trust’s song. We are in the process of finalising promotion and contract details and will inform you when this is released. We have dreams of this being a No. 1 hit!

PLEDGE CARDS

You will find enclosed with this newsletter a SST card seeking support for our campaign. We would ask that you contact your local MP and seek their views regarding parole. Ask them to sign the card. Put your name on it and return it to SST (address on back of card). If the MP says they have already signed a member’s card, say “but you haven’t signed mine”. The more cards returned the better. We will publish the outcome in our next newsletter. We need your help and support for this campaign to be successful. This is a way you can help us. It will also obtain a commitment from those we elect to serve us.

PHIL GOFF EXPLAINS PAROLE

Why do we have parole?

Criminals sentenced to finite prison sentences must one day be released. But simply turning a prisoner out on the street at the end of a sentence is a recipe for disaster. Many inmates who have been locked up for years find it difficult to live independently, and slip back to the habits and acquaintances that fuelled their offending in the first place.

Parole allows us to monitor inmates after release to reduce the chances of inmates reverting to their old ways, and to take action if it looks like they are. Few people would think that was a bad idea and statistics show that, compared to simply turning inmates out on the street, it works.

Those who say parole should be abolished and replaced with supervision after a sentence are opting for a weaker system. It can't allow for recall to a prison sentence if the prison sentence has already finished.

Parole works because we can compel inmates to do things that the probation officer believes will help them go straight, such as attending drug treatment programmes or living somewhere away from old gang associates. The power to impose special conditions to control an inmate's behaviour during their parole period is virtually unlimited.

The ultimate power we have over an inmate is to have them recalled to prison to serve out the remainder of their sentence if they breach their release conditions, re-offend, or even start behaving in a way that suggests they are likely to re-offend.

Recall gives parole real teeth, but it is only possible because the sentence has not finished. When the court sentences someone to prison, it gives the State the power to take away someone's freedom. That power ends when the court-imposed sentence has finished. Parole is not unique to New Zealand and has operated in this country for at least 35 years. It operates in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States. The system brought in by the Parole Act 2002 is tougher for offenders, and offers more recognition of the interests of victims and the public, than the old law. Prior to 2002, offenders were released automatically after serving two-thirds of their sentence, regardless of the risk they posed. Under the new law, public safety is the paramount consideration in all Parole Board decisions. Inmates can be kept in to the last day of their sentence if they pose an undue risk. Being eligible to be considered for parole does not mean they will actually be released.

Victims have the right to make submissions when the Parole Board considers an application for parole. The board can decline to hear applications from an offender for up to three years if it believes the offender's suitability for release won't change over that period. This saves the victims the unnecessary anguish of having annual parole hearings when it is obvious the offender will not be released.

New Zealand's imprisonment rate is already higher than that in Australia, England and Canada. An independent report from the Ministry of Justice shows that under the Sentencing and Parole Acts 2002 offenders are being given longer sentences and are serving longer behind bars. Non-parole periods of up to 30 years are now being handed down. Because of these laws the prison population will increase 20% by 2010 even though crime rates have come down 13.6% since 1996. The cost of this increase is $600-million to build new prisons and $122-million a year to run them, but that is the cost of keeping serious repeat offenders in jail longer. The new sentencing and parole laws are working.

--- Hon Phil Goff (Minister of Justice)

SST GETTING RESULTS

“Parole Reform” is the best news on the criminal justice front for months – that’s my feeling on hearing that the Sensible Sentencing Trust had persuaded a major city council to endorse the anti-parole campaign. I’m delighted because our crime wave is self-inflicted injury. Parole is one of the causes.

Parole tells every criminal that our law does not mean what it says. Compare the public dishonesty over crime to the Waitangi Treaty industry. Treaty dishonesty is in retreat at last, despite its critics being called “rednecks” for years. Now councillors can help get the same kind of overdue public honesty about the disastrous 30-year experiment in “no shame - no blame” criminal justice policy.

Remember :

• Parole forces sentencing judges to lie – they have to know that the sentences pronounced will rarely be served.
• Any sentence of less than 2 years is automatically cut in half, irrespective of the criminal’s attitude. It is cut in half even if he has shown no remorse, only contempt for the victims and the court. It is cut in half even if he pays none of any reparation ordered.
• There is no evidence that parole works for any of its stated purposes – it is not a reward for good behaviour, indeed prison officers complain they are not even asked for their views.
• There is no evidence that parole is any more effective in promoting rehabilitation than the US Federal system. That sets a period of supervision to start after every sentence.

The Parole Act 2002 requires the Parole Board to let prisoners out when the Board thinks they are not “an undue risk to the safety of the community”. So the Board has to release people who have paid only a third of the price fixed by a judge as justice for the victim and the community. The Board can’t let itself to be influenced by a judge’s intention to deter, or to denounce, or even to ensure the victim can feel the criminal is paying a price for the crime - so that the criminal is not left better off by crime than his victim.

If I can offer two suggestions for the next phase :

• Don’t have a complicated message on parole. End it completely. ACT policy is to restore truth-in-sentencing by abolishing parole. We’d welcome your help, but we are all pushing in the same direction anyway.
• Stop apologising for wanting to see punishment for crime. It is not uncivilised to want retribution on behalf of victims. Balancing the scales lies at the heart of most conceptions of justice.

- Stephen Franks MP

NAPIER CITY COUNCIL MAKES HISTORY

Napier City Council votes for SST

Last month the Napier City Council created history of a kind by being the first local authority to publicly support the aims of the Sensible Sentencing Trust. It voted to write to the Minister of Justice to advise of the extreme concern in the community for the reduction in the non-parole period brought about by the amendment of the Parole Act 2002 and urging greater resources for crime prevention.

Councillor Harrison

A scientific poll taken by the five local authorities in Hawkes Bay found that 83% of the community wanted their councils to ensure that they lived and worked in a safe and secure environment. Among the reasons given for the massive majority wanting a safer and more secure community were the following:

1. Resources should be directed toward crime support groups;
2. Resources should be directed toward tougher sentences/prisons in order to make a “tougher stance” on crime;
3. There were too many hoons and thugs let out of jail too early.

Regrettably Hawkes Bay has been the centre of unflattering statistics and media coverage involving some of the most dastardly crime in the last two decades. One of the most gruesome was the case of Margaret Baxter who was run down, raped and then murdered while jogging on a beautiful Hawke’s Bay morning.

If this wasn’t enough comments by a solicitor working on legal aid were just appalling. In defending the murderer Russell Fairbrother (now a Labour MP), blamed the “white ruling class” for the heinous crime.

The community’s abhorrence for such comments was noted when the Labour majority in what is regarded as one of the safest seats in New Zealand was slashed by over 8,000 votes in the last election. With a background of unflattering statistics and a scientific poll the “do-gooders” in the community tried to convince the council not to support the aims of the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

We had the bizarre situation where a representative of the Hawke’s Bay Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society stated that prison didn’t work. However, they had to acknowledge that parole didn’t work either, despite various organisations working in this area, receiving just under $1 million per week from tax payers.

The latest information available from the justice department shows that 97% of youth reoffended within 18 months, 87% of males re-offended within five years and 72% of females re-offend within five years.

These are the most appalling statistics one could possibly imagine -- and they’re getting worse by the day. As a result of the victory within the Napier City Council, other local authorities are now actively considering supporting the Sensible Sentencing Trust in their campaign to protect our families and communities through tougher prison sentences and a firm non-parole period. The days of the community continually pandering to the Politically Correct and a Government that specialises in social engineering are well and truly over.

Sensible Sentencing Trust would like to thank Councillor Harrison and Councillor Herbert for their time and dedication in helping the Trust present their case to Council’.

--- Councillor John Harrison
(Napier City Council)

Your support and contact is important to us. Please advise us of any change of address and/or your email details.

Contact us by Email : sensiblesentencing@xtra.co.nz or write to
P.O. Box 701, NAPIER

VICTIM’S MOTHER DISGUSTED

DRUG OFFENCES IN PRISON

Casie Rawiri was up for parole again in March, 2004, We were definitely planning to be present at an attended hearing.I had received oral confirmation that she had again been found guilty of drug offences whilst in prison. We owe it to society to do our best to prevent this evil person being let loose in our communities to cause mayhem and corrupting others to destroy the lives of innocent people.There was a delay in getting information from the Corrections Department. I had not received a reply from my letter dated February 1, 2004, requesting offender information. I did not get a response until I made a telephone complaint to Wellington. We were not given the hearing date until a week prior to the hearing by which time we had made other commitments.

In my written submission I questioned why I had received conflicting reports. The written report stated that she had not received any further convictions whilst in prison, the oral report stating she had been found guilty of the drug offence. I also questioned how do inmates obtain drugs in a supposedly secure unit and how are they punished when they are caught? Why is the public kept in the dark about these matters?

PUBLIC KEPT IN DARK

Apparently it is dealt with and kept within the penal system because they say they have to protect the prisoners right to privacy and it is not in their best interest to make this information available to the public. WHY? We as taxpayers are paying for their keep we have a right to know what is going on. Where are victim’s rights? How can we prepare a proper submission when the information we receive is vetted and is not a true account? Bailey Kurariki has already had two parole hearings he has now been transferred to the new youth prison in Wiri, it has state of the art facilities, modern bedrooms, access to a magnificent gymnasium, outside area, free medical care, education, books, computers and the inmates are well catered for with excellent meals. Whilst he was held in Christchurch, his parents were able to visit him once every three months; they received free accommodation and airfares etc. at taxpayer’s expense. We were informed on April 8 that Joe Kaukasi is applying for home detention: three months before his eligible parole date, as I wished to attend I was asked to have the submission in by April 16, 2004.

Sensible Sentencing has contributed greatly to the changes in legislation for tougher sentences for the very worst crimes. Unfortunately our Justice Minister has seen fit to also put in place tougher sentences for victims and their families as well. Previously criminals were eligible for parole after serving two thirds of their sentence: they are now eligible for parole after serving only one third of their sentence and worse still they may also apply for home detention five months prior to that!

Riki Rapira is eligible for parole in September, 2004, I am sure he will also apply for home detention in May, 2004, therefore we are facing two hearings a year for each inmate instead of one. This means we will have 10 hearings every year until they are released.

WILL KILL AGAIN SAYS SISTER

The words responsibility, accountability, ownership are words from the dictionary I was once unaccustomed to until June 1, 1994, when Gresham Marsh and accomplice Leith Ray executed a defenceless elderly couple in their own home of Te Akau. I am forced through actions not of my own making to be involved in a world I do not understand or comprehend. The opposite to this is that Gresham does not understand or comprehend that what he has done is wrong. To quote him: “They have lived long enough”.

I am Rowene Marsh Potaka sister to convicted murderer Gresham Marsh. My family and I lived in the horrible fear that Gresham would one day kill. He wanted to know what it would be like to kill someone. He was going from bad to worse, having 60 convictions prior to the murders. A letter of warning was sent to the Morrinsville constable in regards to Gresham and his threats. This letter was to be forwarded to the Judge the next time Gresham appeared before the court. We were ignored and unfortunately the murders were committed. Our worst fears became reality.

The murders happened 10 years ago this June. Gresham is due to come up for parole this year. He will kill again. I would like to encourage SST members to help our family fight against his parole and keep Gresham away from all our loved ones. He is very dangerous and in my opinion does not deserve another chance. To give him another chance will be a fatal decision. We do not want another murder to happen at the hands of our brother.

We will live with this horrific crime for the rest of our lives. It has devastated us all and we will continue to fight parole or at least until SST achieves one of their main goals to abolish parole for violent criminals. Please help support us by writing to the Parole Board before June 1 objecting to Gresham’s release. The address is :

The Parole Board Private Box 1206, WELLINGTON

Thank you for your support
--- Rowene Marsh Potaka & Marsh family

SENTENCE MUST FIT THE CRIME

Civilised society is based upon law and order. Without law and order, commerce cannot flourish, the ability of people to move freely and safely is curtailed and progress in all areas would come to a halt. A breakdown in the system of law and order appears when the authorities charged with the responsibility no longer have the ability to cope with an outbreak of lawlessness. In the Wairoa District gang violence and disorder has happened on a number of occasions over the last 20 years or so. The most recent outbreak spilled over into the retail area directly involving the local people going about their lawful business and further damaging the reputation of Wairoa as a place to live and carry out normal business activities. How to deal with the situation?

There are obviously a number of factors, including the ability of the local police to deal with unexpected situations that arise, the social conditions that lead to the formation of gangs and their ability to recruit young prospects etc.

Some solutions are short term such as the apprehension of gang members and their swift passage through the courts, but it is quite evident that unless the sentences fit’s the crime this type of individual will continue to treat the law and the community with contempt.

Tragedy of gang recruits

It has been said that the greatest victims of the gangs are in fact the people from the lower socioeconomic groups. These groups are also where the gang prospects are recruited from and probably where the drug trading and petty theft flourishes. There are in my opinion certain people that are beyond redemption and all the rehabilitation efforts may well be wasted. However if even those people realised that a five year sentence meant five and not two, if the sentence really did fit the crime, perhaps we may see offenders considering whether a life of crime was worth the effort.

Although the offender may have a sentence reduced for a number of reasons, the trauma inflicted on the victim and family is not reduced, the rape victim cannot walk away from the effects. The inner wounds of a beaten person take a longer time to heal than is apparent on the surface. It really is time that the safety of the community and the rights of the victims of crime were given priority over the rights of the criminal and that the sentence really does fit the crime.

Les Probert
Mayor of Wairoa

Photo :
HB Today Newspaper

WHERE ARE VICTIM’S RIGHTS?

In September, 2002, seven of the nine young thugs were convicted for the heinous murder of my son Michael Choy on September 13, 2001. Earlier, one who had pleaded guilty had already been sentenced. The other, due to a very clever lawyer, managed to escape conviction but was caught in a burglary several months later! In the 19 months since that time, we have had to make six written submissions, two oral submissions: and my husband Ken, Marc Alexander and I have attended a parole hearing for Casie Rawiri at the Christchurch Women’s Prison in March 2003.

WHO IS RECEIVING THE TOUGHER SENTENCE?

We live with the loss and the knowledge of the agony Michael suffered at the hands of these cowardly criminals. Every parole or home detention hearing brings back the pain and misery. We have to revisit the horrific details and the nightmares and sleepless nights begin again. Parole has to be abolished

- Rita Croskery
SST Ambassador

THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN?

THE SENSIBLE SENTENCING LIBRARY OF
GOOD & BAD SENTENCES

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Newly appointed Judge Mike Behrens QC, granted bail to a known gang member facing firearms and intimidation charges despite strong police opposition. The gang member was back in court shortly afterward on new charges including burglary.

Youth Court Judge Anthony Walsh took the unusual step of issuing summonses to the parents of a youth facing a criminal charge to attend court with him.

The Parole Board released child killer Anthony Roma in August, 2003. Less than 6 months later he was in court charged with committing an indecent act.

Judge Noel Walsh remitted a Mataura man’s fines of more than $14,000 saying he had a “huge amount” of fines outstanding and “it’s unrealistic for you to pay the fines”. He ordered him to pay $183.35 reparation and to complete 300 hours community work.

High Court Judge Eddy Jurie has been appointed to the Law Commission. He will no longer be presiding in the High Court.

All contributions for this column would be most welcomed.

CHILD KILLER RELEASED

THE RIGHT TO BE SAFE IN YOUR HOME

At 5am on a Sunday in 1991 Roma entered the Reaney home arming himself with a carving knife and axle stand. He attacked Belinda and Steve Reaney and their baby as they lay sleeping in their bed. Fortunately they fought him off receiving severe bruising and cuts. Roma fled the house. They immediately checked on their other children. They found their two little boys’ heads had been bashed in with an axle stand as they lay sleeping in their beds. Both boys were put on life support systems. Michael aged 10 survived. Simon aged 7 died. Parents have the right to tuck their children up in bed knowing they will not be harmed and law-abiding citizens in society have the right to be protected from such horrific crimes. Roma received a life sentence. For 3 years the Reaney family attended parole hearings at great financial and emotional cost trying to keep Roma out of society. Despite their pleas he was released last year, with an assurance that he had been rehabilitated. Less than six months after his release he masturbated in front of a group of children in a shopping mall. This is not the behaviour of a rehabilitated person. He was charged with committing an indecent act and sentenced to 6 months to be served concurrently with his parole recall to continue his life sentence.The absurdity of all this is that Roma comes up again for parole in June this year.

The Reaney family once again face the trauma of parole hearings and society is once more put at risk. If parole was abolished and Roma served a real life sentence the Reaney family would at least be given their right to get on with their lives without being haunted by the heinous actions of their son’s killer and society would have the protection it rightly deserves.

- W. Pedler

FLOWERS

I got flowers today.
It wasn’t my birthday or any other special day.
We had our first argument last night
He said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn’t mean the things he said
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
It wasn’t our wedding anniversary or any other special day.
Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare. I couldn’t believe it was real.
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I knew he must be sorry because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today and it wasn’t Mothers Day or any other special day.
Last night, he beat me up again. It was much worse than all the other times.

If I leave him what will I do?
How will I take care of my kids?
What about money?
I am afraid of him and scared to
leave BUT I know he must be sorry
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
Today was a special day.
It was the day of my funeral.
Last night he finally killed me – He beat me to death!!!
If only I had gathered enough courage and strength to leave him
I would not have gotten flowers today!

(Sent to us by an SST member)

Letters to the Editor

The SST team once again thanks those members who take the time to write to us. Here are a few of the many comments we receive:

BAY OF PLENTY :
“Please keep up the good work you do, perhaps one day this country will be the safe and happy place I came out to 40 years ago”.

AUCKLAND :
“I have just received and read my latest SST Newsletter.
I am encouraged and proud of the good work the Trust is continuing. It must give great heart to those victims who have been so grievously offended by criminals, they have somewhere to go in this ridiculous PC atmosphere”.

DUNEDIN :
“Many thanks for all the hard work, You are making amazing progress Keep up the good work”

SST Board Calendar :

• Parliament Submissions
  - Sex Offenders Bill
  - Extended Parole
• Meetings
  - Napier City Council
  - Auckland
  - Hastings
  - Wellington
• Newspaper articles - Editorials
• Auckland Committee
• Board Meetings held every Thursday
• Continued legislation
• Working closely with Victims

LAW AND ORDER MEETING AUCKLAND
The Auckland committee are hosting a promotional event of some considerable size to show that Sensible Sentencing supporters aren’t in the business of standing still.

Where : ELLIESLIE CONVENTION CENTRE
JULY 4, 2004 2pm - 4pm
Guest Speaker - Dr. Don Brash
Leader National Party
WITH OTHER GUEST SPEAKERS

Please keep the date free!! Tell your family, friends and workmates.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE A gold coin donation to cover expenses would be appreciated.

92% OF KIWIS AGREE WITH US
but we need your help to continue
PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Enclosed in this Newsletter is an Invoice
We would like you to become a member again in 2004
Members who have joined after June 03 will receive an invoice
automatically through the mail.
WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE BUT WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS

POLICY PRESCRIPTION

The Board are formulating SST policy. We have had political parties approach us to discuss our policies with very positive feedback. The following are four of our 15 headings.

• Victims as the focus of Justice
• Life to mean Life for premeditated or aggravated Murder
• Abolish parole for all violent criminals and sex offenders
• A commitment to the development of a Ministry for Victims

As soon as the policies have been finalised they will be posted on our website.

For your diary: Release of SST song soon

PRIZE HOLIDAY UP FOR GRABS

TENDER - FUNDRAISER

A THANK YOU
from the webmaster
TO
Ross Crosby

Currently resident in Australia, he has been invaluable in helping me keep the Offender Database up to date, keeping me supplied with new information and keeping me motivated to keep it up to date. He has ferreted out new data on over 200 Offenders, and as a result our database has grown immensely over the last year and is also more accurate and up to date.

EXCELLENT WORK
HELPING TO MAKE NZ SAFER

Tourism Holding Ltd. has kindly donated to the Sensible Sentencing Trust 10 days in a 4 berth Maui Motorhome within New Zealand or Australia.

SST Board have decided to tender this fantastic prize. Travel between 1st May - 30th September 2004. Please read details on the left. This is an opportunity to take a fabulous holiday and also support the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Please send tender to :
The Secretary, Sensible Sentencing Trust
P.O. Box 701 NAPIER

Sensible Sentencing Trust THANKS Tourism Holdings for their amazing generosity.