escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

Mouseover links for full page descriptions

Archived Press Releases 2002 December 1st

Brutal Child Killers apply for Parole

(1st December 2002)

Two of New Zealand’s most brutal murderers will make their bid for freedom this week; if either re-offends we will hold the Parole Board accountable, said the National spokesperson for the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

On the 4th December the Parole board will consider Parole for a killer whose callous brutality terrified and shocked every Mother and Father in New Zealand. Anthony Roma brutally beat 7-year-old Simon Reaney and his brother on April 14th 1991 while the boys lay sleeping in their parents home. Simon was beaten so badly that he died of his injuries.

Despite a defence of insanity, the jury found that Roma was sane at the time of his offending; he was found guilty of Murder and given the mandatory "Life" sentence. This will be Roma’s second Parole hearing.

Paul Bailey, who brutally raped and murdered Kylie Smith on 1st November 1991, will appear for his second Parole hearing on 5th December. Bailey was on bail for a previous rape when he abducted, raped and murdered 16-year-old Kylie. Sensible Sentencing Trust has been vigorously trying to convince Parliament that offenders like Roma and Bailey should never get Parole.

An overwhelming majority of the citizens of New Zealand have demanded that offenders in this category should never walk our streets again. Despite numerous assurances from this and previous Governments we still have not seen Legislation that will prevent offenders who commit premeditated, aggravated murder from ever being able to prey on Society again. The number of offenders who are re-offending while on bail or Parole is alarming, said Mr McVicar.

We are keeping a very good library on this category of offender, we believe that in the not too distant future a Parole Board will be held accountable for the loss of an innocent life.

Under the 2002 Parole Act the "paramount consideration in every case is the safety of the community"

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.