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Archived Press Releases 2005 13th September 2005

Public support for Victims
Government support for criminals

(13th September 2005)

Members of the public have offered to assist the mother of a murdered teenager after the Government refused to pay costs of $702 to travel to Wellington to try and stop her daughter’s killer getting compensation.

Sam Te Hei had brutally kicked and bashed 15 year old Colleen Burrows to death after she refused to have sex with him and his Mongrel Mob mates, Te Hei later won $90,000 compensation for treatment he received while in prison. But Colleen’s mother got really angry when she heard Te Hei was lining up for another lot of compensation. She decided to travel to Wellington to put in a submission to try and convince the Government to stop Te Hei receiving any further compensation payments. An application to cover her expenses was put in to Victim Support and the Minister of Justice - both were declined.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust then paid for the mother, Ida Hawkins, to go to Wellington and later submitted a claim to have the costs reimbursed; it has been revealed that this was also refused by the Speaker Margaret Wilson who had authorized the earlier compensation payment to Te Hei in her capacity as Attorney General.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said that they had received calls from the public who were very upset and angry at the way the Govt. had treated the grieving mother of the murdered teenager.

"We rely on the public for donations to enable us to support Victims like this so we very much appreciate the very generous offers."

"Not only must this mother face the ridiculous situation where her daughter’s killer gets not only one lot of compensation but is in fact is one of 200 prisoners lining up for more.

Mr McVicar said it is hypocritical for the Government to say they support victims when in reality the Government not only compensates prisoners for some facetious abuse of their rights but also traumatizes the victim’s family by allowing the killer to get parole.

"We believe it is extremely petty, and a cause for deep shame to allow our Victims to be treated with such utter contempt. There is no place in a civilized society for criminals like Te Hei who kicked this poor girl to death because she refused to have sex with him and his mates.

Parole must be abolished and compensation for criminals must be stopped.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.