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Archived Press Releases 2008 3rd June 2008

Bail like powder-keg waiting to blow

(3rd June 2008)

The Government is coming under increasing fire after an Auckland family revealed the youth accused of murdering their son has been granted Bail and is living in close proximity to the victims family.

Charlie Borrell, the father of the murdered youth Augustine Borrell said, “Allowing the man accused of murdering my son to be Bailed within 1100 metres of our home is like placing a 44 gallon drum of petrol within one metre of a bonfire. It will ignite with horrific consequences”

Charlie Borrell approached the Sensible Sentencing Trust to express his families concerns after they found out their sons killer was on Bail within 1100 meters of their home.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said after talking to Mr Borrell he decided to take their story to Close-Up to expose the folly of “this powder-keg.”

“After Mr. Borrell told me there had already been one confrontation between the two families I felt we had no option but to expose this publicly to hopefully have Bail revoked.”

The story screened on Close-Up last night.

“This family is being placed under enormous pressure; this is a very volatile situation – a powder-keg waiting to blow.”

“The Borrells’ are a wonderful family but the murder of their son has placed them under enormous pressure, this crazy Bail decision is pushing them beyond the point of no return. It will take only a small spark and this drum of petrol will explode.”

“The current Bail law is a disastrous piece of legislation, for the Government to refuse to show on Close-up last night is just not good enough. They designed this legislation to unload the prison population but the way it is working exactly the opposite is happening.”

“The Government is on the ropes on this one and they deserve to be.”

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.