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Archived Press Releases 2007 2nd April 2007

BURTON MERRY-GO-ROUND BEGINS AGAIN TOMORROW

(2nd April 2007)

Graeme Burton is due to be sentenced in the Wellington High Court tomorrow for the murder of Karl Kuchenbecker and other serious violent crimes.

The harshest sentence he can be given under New Zealand law at present is preventative detention, but even if he gets this the Sensible Sentencing Trust say Karl Kuchenbecker's family and the community will have been robbed and denied any semblance of true justice.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said that the injustices and cover-ups that began when Burton was released and continued in the "white-wash" reports will continue in Court tomorrow, "Even if the Judge gives him preventative detention".

"A sentence of preventative detention means that this whole crazy scenario will begin again in the future, Burton will come up for parole again and the Kuchenbecker family will again be victimized by the criminal friendly justice system that says Burton deserves another chance".

"This crazy merry-go-round will begin again in the Wellington High Court tomorrow, the community will be short changed and the Kuchenbecker family denied any semblance of justice".

McVicar said, Burton should be punished – severely – by receiving a whole-of-natural-life sentence, "Then Karl’s family and the community can feel justice has been done, but sadly the criminals will win and the community will lose again tomorrow”"

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.