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Archived Press Releases 2004 24th September 2004

Pay the Crims - Screw the Victims?

(24th September 2004)

The Sensible Sentencing Trust believes the decision to deny the R.S.A. case to be heard in Court the same week massive compensation has been awarded to criminals is another classic example of "reward the criminal and screw the victim".

William Bell was on parole when he committed the RSA massacre. Mr Hobson's wife Mary was one of three people brutally murdered that day. Tai Hobson alleged the Crown was negligent for not monitoring or recalling Bell when he breached his parole conditions prior to the murders.

The Trust national spokesman said that the High Court decision meant that Mr Hobson would now have to go to the Court of Appeal to try and seek justice. It appears totally ironic to us that a victim is denied justice and the opportunity to have his case heard in Court when some of our worst criminals are being awarded massive payments for supposedly inhumane treatment while in prison.

Mr McVicar said that both cases were examples of United Nations warm fuzzy-feel good philosophy gone stark raving bonkers.

Our Courts reward murderers who allege a breach of their human rights, while telling a victim who has had his wife murdered that he is not entitled to those same human rights.

It appears that justice for the law abiding citizen is a figment of the imagination under our existing justice system. The criminal gets free legal aid and the red carpet treatment while the victims are cast aside and left floundering in the gutter.

It is time we introduced "human responsibilities" into "human rights" legislation, this crazy situation has gone far enough.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.