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Archived Press Releases 2005 25th March 2005

Bad to the Bone

(25th March 2005)

Criminals like Antonie Dixon are just utterly evil and bad to the bone according to the organization leading the call to "get tough on crime".

In a statement released after a Jury found Dixon guilty of 12 charges including murder and grievous bodily harm the Justice Watchdog group have praised the jury for their courageous decision in tossing out the defence claim that Antonie Dixon was mentally ill.

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman, Garth McVicar said it was a, "fantastic result, congratulations to the Prosecution team, Justice Potter and the Jury, it would have been an absolute travesty of justice if Dixon and his defence lawyer had managed to pull off a stunt like an insanity plea on such horrendous crimes."

We believe this is an incredibly important decision for the future of our country; Justice Potter's summing up was absolutely 100 percent correct by directing the jury that a temporary psychosis caused by the drug P was not enough to find him insane.

The message this sends to other criminals is clear said Mr McVicar, "the fact that someone maybe drunk or on drugs at the time of their offending is no longer an excuse our Courts will accept. The consequences of this decision will have a dramatic impact right through the justice system from petty crime to murder".

"Dixon was just bad to the bone, utterly evil, all that remains now is to see him get a sentence of at least 25 years, Justice Potter has proved before she has the courage to do it" said Mr McVicar.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.