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Archived Press Releases 2005 16th February 2005

Mother’s plea! Stop prisoner compensation

(16th February 2005)

The Mother of a 15 year old girl who was brutally beaten to death in Napier will today appeal to Politicians to stop her daughter's killer receiving compensation for a second time.

In 1987 Sam Te Hei brutally murdered Colleen Burrows in a vicious prolonged attack after the teenager refused to have sex with him. She was so badly beaten her family could not identify her.

Colleens’ mother, Ida Hawkins is extremely upset that Te Hei has the cheek to even claim for compensation after what he did to her daughter. "He showed no compassion for my daughter and he has shown no remorse, he says he has been mistreated in prison!! Mistreated!! He killed my daughter; nothing can replace what he took from me!!"

Te Hei was one of three prisoners who received compensation after they alleged prison guards beat them. Attorney General Margaret Wilson ordered the Corrections Department to settle that case out of Court. That action opened the flood gates and Te Hei is now one of over 200 prisoners who allege their "human rights" were abused by the harsh behaviour management regime used to manage difficult prisoners.

Mrs Hawkins will tell the politicians she has no sympathy for Sam Te Hei, saying "He is a coward, he used his fists and boots to kill my little girl! To claim his human rights have been breached shows the truly pathetic coward he is."

"Human Rights’ are for human beings! I don’t want Sam Te Hei getting one cent in compensation. The Government must stop this nonsense" Mrs Hawkins said

The Sensible Sentencing Trust assisted Ida Hawkins with the above Press Release, and will be assisting her in Parliament. Ida is due to appear before the Select Committee at 4.45pm on Wednesday 16th February.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.