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Archived Press Releases 2004 20th February 2004

Call for Judges to support Sensible Sentencing

(20th February 2004)

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is urging all judges to support the call for a reform of New Zealand's Justice System.

Mr. McVicar said it was ironic that on the same day we see one judge give a sensible sentence and ensure that the planners and plotters behind the Marcus Doig and John Vaughn killings will not get the opportunity to torment any other families for a long long time, we see another judge show us how pathetic our Justice system really is.

The national spokesman for the Sensible Sentencing Trust said they congratulate Justice Randerson for his comments and sentences for those involved in the Marcus Doig and John Vaughn executions but we are absolutely horrified at the pathetic sentence given to another convicted murderer who re-offended while parole.

Convicted child killer Anthony Roma was sentenced to 6 months in prison for indecently exposing himself while on parole; this new sentence is to be served concurrently with his recall for breaching parole. Roma has been recalled to continue serving his "LIFE" sentence and will be eligible for parole in twelve months. This effectively means Roma will do no extra time for his most recent crime.

Now we have the ridiculous situation where the family of Simon Reaney, the child Roma brutally murdered in 1991, will need to appear before the parole board again every year to try and ensure their sons killer is not released yet again.

Does this Judge not understand what he is putting this family through?

The trauma of knowing that the criminal who brutally murdered your child will once again be free prey on another family is an incredibly soul shattering experience.

Mr. McVicar said the public of New Zealand have had enough of the revolving door criminal justice policy. Our concurrent sentencing or "Bulk Discount" justice system is allowing these repeat offenders to continually be recycled.

Judges have a duty and an obligation to the community they serve, if they expect the public to retain any sort of trust and confidence in our justice system they will need to listen to what the community is saying.

The Government may have ignored 92% of the voters who demanded a reform of the justice system, but hopefully our Judges will show a little more integrity, honesty and leadership, said Mr. McVicar.

The safety of law abiding New Zealanders must be the Number One priority of our Justice system.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust will be launching a campaign to abolish parole for all violent offenders and sex offenders early next month; we will be calling on all judges and community leaders to support our call.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.