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Archived Press Releases 2009 14th September 2009

VICTIMS GATHER TO PUT COURTS ON TRIAL

(14th September 2009)

More than a hundred high profile victims of violent crime will gather in a simulated court room in Taupo this weekend in a bid to highlight how the justice system is failing them.

The ‘Courts On Trial’ session, headed by former MP and lawyer Stephen Franks , will turn the court system around and give victims a rare chance to publicly ask why murderers and repeat violent offenders are getting away with short sentences and why judges are not being held accountable for their decisions.

The court session is part of the Sensible Sentencing Trust’s annual conference. The fifth year the event has been held, Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said it was in many ways sad that the conference was getting bigger every year.

“If the justice system was working, victims would not feel the need to gather together to express their concerns and fight for change. The Trust never approaches victims and yet increasingly they seek us out because they feel their concerns are not being heard. The conference is a platform to identify collective issues and present them as a united front.”

“It’s easy to ignore one person fighting the system, but it’s very hard to ignore 100 high profile victims who have all suffered at the hands of violent crime, and then again in the hands of the justice system.”

Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins will publicly front up to victims, who last year walked out on her predecessor Annette King in protest.

“There is no doubt that feelings will be running high. There is a mood for change and victims and indeed most New Zealanders want to see some very specific indications from Government that they are siding with them, not the criminals.”

The court session will specifically ask why criminals get legal aid but victims don’t, why there are so many delays in court proceedings, why maximum sentences are virtually non-existent and non-parole periods so short and why offenders deserve shorter sentences just because they plead guilty.

On Sunday new lobby group Crossroads, formed by families who have lost loved ones to drunk and dangerous drivers, will launch their official policies and objectives.

WHERE: Suncourt Motel & Conference Centre 14 Northcroft St Taupo

WHEN:

• Saturday 19th September
• 9.45am: Memorial ceremony and balloon release
• 10.20am: Garth McVicar introduces families
• 10.50am: Address by Hon Judith Collins
• 11.30am: Courts on Trial (until 12.45pm)
• Sunday 20th September
• 9am: Media statement about victims’ demands based on results of private Saturday workshops
• 9.30am: Drink Drive lobby group Crossroads official launch

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.