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Archived Press Releases 2009 29th September 2009

JUDGE GIVES LICENCE TO KILL

(29th September 2009)

The Sensible Sentencing Trust says the three year sentence handed down in a road rage incident that left an elderly man dead is a licence to kill and another nail in the coffin of New Zealand’s Justice System.

28-year-old Tuvalu student Bio O'Brien and 78 year old motorist Jasmatbhai Patel were involved in a minor collision as they jostled for position on a busy Mt Albert Road during peak traffic about 8am on April 7. After the collision O'Brien got out of his black BMW and opened the door of Mr Patel's blue van, unfastened his seatbelt and pulled him onto the road. As he did that he started to beat him about the head and face with his hands. Mr Patel died next day.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said in handing down such a pathetic sentence Justice Potter had failed in her duty to protect the public and send out a deterrent message to other short fused road ragers.

"O’Brien has a propensity for losing his temper, he has prior convictions for male assaults female as well as threatening to kill."

"If our Judges are prepared to accept this level of Violence it is no wonder Violent crime is flourishing and Prisons are overflowing. If actions such as this are being sanctioned by our Judges this country has been condemned to an escalation in violence."

"At a time when the Government is saying it is essential public faith in the Justice System is restored we get Justice Potter doing her damndest to erode that faith even further."

"This is not just a licence to kill, it is another nail in the coffin of the Justice system."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.