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Archived Press Releases 2007 5th August 2007

Crown prosecutor a disgrace

(5th August 2007)

The Christchurch Crown Prosecutor is a disgrace and should be immediately removed from his job says prominent justice watchdog.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is livid after a Christchurch chef was prosecuted for stabbing a 15 year old who was part of a gang that attacked him for wearing the wrong colour shirt.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said the gang of youths attacked the chef on a bus because he apparently had a shirt colour that represented a different gang. They abused and punched the chef before he defended himself by pulling a knife out of his bag and stabbed one of his attackers.

"The Crown originally charged the chef with attempted murder but lowered it to grievous bodily harm, saying the chef had committed a serious crime."

"This Crown prosecutor, Barnaby Barnes, is a disgrace to the profession, is it okay for a bunch of thugs to terrorize innocent people on a city bus?"

Mr McVicar said, "Obviously Barnaby Barnes thinks it is okay for thugs to assault people simply because they are wearing the wrong colour shirt?"

"Barnaby Barnes should be absolutely ashamed of himself, I hope he is immediately relieved of his duties. He should be protecting the city from thugs like these – not persecuting innocent people who now have to protect themselves as our cities become more violent."

McVicar said this was the worst case of political correctness gone absolutely mad – the criminals are now the victims – and the REAL victim is the one who gets charged. How dumb is that?

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.