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Archived Press Releases 2008 17th August 2008

Statement from Rita Croskery

RE: GLENDA HUGHES'S COMMENTS IN TODAY'S SUNDAY STAR TIMES (August 17th, 2008)

(17th August 2008)

"The Sensible Sentencing Trust ‘s use of Rita Croskery , mother of Michael Choy killed by 12 year old Bailey Junior Kurariki and others is “disgusting”. Every time the Trust brings her forward to talk about the case they are preventing her from recovering…she should be allowed to let go."

Rita Croskery's response:

While I admire Ms Hughes for her work with helping to solve the offenders and other peoples problems she fails to recognize the role of The Sensible Sentencing Trust.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust was formed by Garth McVicar. In the last seven years Garth and his wife Anne have given up time with their family and foregone their own pleasures to dedicate their lives fighting for Victims Rights to help restore the lives of Victims of Homicide and/or violent crime.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is an entirely voluntary organisation and currently the only organization that brings victims together to form a network of like-minded people who totally understand because they have "walked the walk". I have experienced how uplifting it has been for Victims, many of whom had lost hope and even in a few instances been suicidal.

There is absolutely no pressure put to bear on any victim.

Garth McVicar is the most honorable and compassionate person I know He receives no monetary remuneration from The Sensible Sentencing Trust.

He is Not Paid

It is reward enough for him and his family to see broken people back on the road to leading some sort of a normal life

I have moved on. The reason I continue to speak out is to try to get a better deal for Victims and to take any measures I can to prevent criminal activities

One of the restrictions preventing Victims moving forward is our Parole System -the Hearings which are held at regular intervals throughout the years

In actual fact it is also articles that appeared in the paper by Ms Hughes today, that further fuel the great Social experiment that has proved to be a dismal failure.

Regards,

Rita Croskery