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Archived Press Releases 2008 12th July 2008

SEVEN YEARS FOR BABY JHIA KILLING virtually legitimizes such crimes

(12th July 2008)

Every person in the car during the killing of Baby Jhia deserves to be sentenced for murder not manslaughter says the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Kelly Te Heuheu, Maori Crime Specialist for the Justice Watchdog says Baby Jhias life was worth more than the pathetic four years non-parole sentence handed down to the violent thugs.

This sentencing endorses and encourages this type of violent killing. No remorse was evident by the thugs James William Challis, 20, and Tyrone Temappi Box, 19 - they show a pathetic "staunch and proud of themselves" attitude.

Justice Gendell said the attitudes of these two offenders were likely to keep them locked up well beyond the four year non-parole period.

But Te Heuheu strongly disagrees. “Get real Justice Gendell - these thugs deserve to be thrown away for life, as a deterrent and to send a message that such crime will not be tolerated. If the current legal system does not allow a Judge to give a life sentence for being an accessory to a babies murder then government must urgently change this shocking piece of garbage legislation. This sentencing encourages a war between the two gangs, Mongrel Mob and Black Power. Justice has not been served.

We cannot let our soft laws to allow these thugs to come up for parole in four years, they should never be released back into the community again!

Baby Jhia's life is over, her whanau have been left with a life sentence of pain and grief. We as a country owe Baby Jhia much more respect and dignity than this pathetic sentence!

This Government is still not listening to the people, if they were they would take urgent action to change our current pathetic laws now!!

Regards,

Kelly Te Heuheu
Maori Crime Issues Specialist,
Taupo Co-ordinator and Media Spokeperson
Sensible Sentencing Trust
Aotearoa
Email kteh@ihug.co.nz