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Archived Press Releases 2006 20th December 2006

"THREE STRIKES" WOULD HAVE SAVED LIAM ASHLEY

(20th December 2006)

If New Zealand had a "Three Strikes" law Liam Ashley and many other murder victims would still be alive today says the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

In a statement released today the Trust said Charlie George Baker who was jailed for 18 years for Liam’s murder had a long list of previous convictions – many for serious violent offences – and should not have been on the streets to commit yet another crime.

Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said that most crime in this country was committed by repeat offenders who had simply been recycled by the Courts, "This has been made possible by a criminal friendly legal system introduced by weak-kneed spineless politicians and legislators."

"Liam Ashley’s death and many other victim deaths can be laid directly at the door of a Parliament that has been hi-jacked by a love-thy-crim mentality; we do not need to go far back in history to see where this pathetic warm-fuzzy movement has got us."

"In 1951 (the year I was born) New Zealand had 2 Million people with only 2 homicides and only 200 (yes 200) violent offences, 56 years later we have a 4 million population and approximately 100 violent deaths per year and over 50,000 violent offences and 3271 sexual offences and 53,000 cases of child abuse."

Mr McVicar said that New Zealand had become a land full of criminals with tourists being mugged, raped or murdered on a frequent basis and criminals now encroaching on every aspect of a law-abiding citizen’s daily life. "Our figures show an expected 1200 violent offenders will be eligible for parole in 2007 and going on past history 900 of these will re-offend."

"The Sensible Sentencing Trust believes the love-thy-crim social experiment has failed and we will be stepping up our call for a "Three strikes" policy to be adopted to ensure repeat offenders are held accountable for their crimes."

"While politicians dither more innocent Kiwis are dying, Charlie George Baker may be serving the prison sentence but it is Parliament and weak spineless politicians that have Liam Ashley’s blood on their hands."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.