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Archived Press Releases 2005 1st March 2005

RSA Widower asks "Am I the Criminal?"

(1st March 2005)

Tai Hobson lost his wife in the Mount Wellington RSA massacre; he will ask Parliament tomorrow why he has been made to feel like the Criminal.

Mary Hobson, Wayne Johnson and William Absolum were murdered by William Bell in an armed hold up of the RSA where Bell worked as a Bar assistant; Bell also left Susan Couch mortally wounded fighting for her life.

Tai Hobson will appear before the Justice and Electoral Select Committee tomorrow to tell the politicians that our Justice System has got it wrong.

"How can it be that we pay Criminals compensation for some alleged abuse of their "Rights" while in prison and yet someone like my family is denied our day in Court to bring a serious case where innocent people have been murdered?"

William Bell had 102 previous convictions and was on Parole at the time of the RSA killings. Mr Hobson says the Corrections Department mismanaged Bells parole conditions, and he has tried to sue the Attorney General. His case has been struck out and is subject to Appeal.

"It seems ludicrous that we pay lawyers legal aid to defend criminals who are suing the Crown and yet real Victims must pay their own expenses and are still denied the right to seek Justice."

Mr Hobson said he is also taking his case to the "Human RightsCommission" asking for an explanation on why Judges award large sums of money to prisoners and yet the same "Human Rights" are not given to law abiding members of the community. "It seems we have our priorities all wrong" Mr Hobson said.

"This is not about me; this is about Justice and the "Rights" of the average law abiding tax-paying New Zealander. All we want to do is expose the truth of what really happened leading up to the RSA tragedy, and we want to ensure other innocent people do not die needlessly the way Mary and the others did.

Do we need to become Criminals to be awarded "Human Rights"?

"Why am I made to feel like the Criminal!!"

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has assisted Tai Hobson with above release. Tai is due before the Select Committee at 3:30 PM on the 2nd March.

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.