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Archived Press Releases 2008 6th June 2008

Appeal Court cultivates land fit for criminals

(6th June 2008)

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says the Court of Appeal is cultivating a land fit for criminals by reducing the sentence of a man who stabbed and severely wounded his three children.

Fa’amanu Milford was sentenced last year to 15 years jail, with a minimum non-parole period of 10 years, after he locked his partner in their house, threatened to kill her and then stabbed their three children while she fled for help.

The children aged three years, 18 months and seven weeks had stab wounds to their necks, abdomen and faces, and were left fighting for their lives.

The Court of Appeal has reduced his sentence by 4 years with a non-parole period of seven years.

The children’s mother says she is heartbroken and devastated by the decision and has lost what little faith she had in the justice system.

The woman contacted Garth McVicar, founder of the Sensible Sentencing Trust for help, saying she feared for the lives of her children and herself when Milford got out of prison.

Garth McVicar said he advised the woman to leave New Zealand . I have seen some ridiculous decisions by the Court of Appeal but this one "takes the cake".

"The Court of Appeal appears to be endorsing the activities of very violent criminals. By reducing this type of sentence they are virtually giving these guys their blessing to get out of jail and do it again."

"I imagine the Court of Appeal will tell her to get a Protection order, but those aren’t worth the paper they are written on. Many women have been murdered recently by men with protection orders against them. This young mother does not want to be another statistic but the Court of Appeal has sealed her fate – she has no future in this country."

"This woman is now facing having to uproot her family and leave New Zealand. The Appeal Court is destroying any semblance of trust the public had in a sadly dysfunctional justice system – they are cultivating a land fit for criminals."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.