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Archived Press Releases 2006 4th May 2006

Another big win for Sensible Sentencing Trust

(4th May 2006)

It has been a big week for the Sensible Sentencing Trust, on Wednesday the police charged a man with the killing of Hawkes Bay farmer Jack Nicholas - the vital information came via the Trust - and on Thursday, the Government announced a comprehensive review of the way victims of crime are treated by the justice system.

Trust spokesman, Garth McVicar said the Trust had been pushing hard for an inquiry into the way victims are treated when they become involved in the criminal justice system.

"Our justice system has become very lopsided and totally out of balance with the criminals having far greater access to services and more rights than the victims; this imbalance needs to be addressed to ensure real justice is seen to be done and victims are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve".

"This is something we have been fighting for since the Trust began five years ago, the announcement that the Justice and Electoral Select Committee will conduct an inquiry into the treatment and rights of victims and their families will be welcomed by the thousands of people who have supported the Trust"

McVicar said that the way victims have been treated in New Zealand has been absolutely shameful. The stress of the original crime is bad enough, but then to be abused by the very system that is meant to be there to protect them destroyed people's faith in the Courts.

"This has been an amazing week for the Sensible Sentencing Trust, to be able to assist the police to make an arrest in the killing of Jack Nicholas and then have the Government agree to this inquiry - it just doesn’t get much better."

"We would like to thank all our supporters who have made these amazing achievements possible".

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.