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Archived Press Releases 2009 16th September 2009

WEATHERSTON GOT 16½ YEARS

ELLIOTTS GOT LIFE!

(16th September 2009)

"We may kid ourselves that we are a compassionate caring Country but in reality we are not, the Elliotts got a true Life Sentence and the killer gets early release."

The only compassion showed yesterday was to Sophie Elliott’s killer.

The Elliott family’s lives were destroyed by one barbaric act committed by Clayton Weatherston, but in sentencing the killer to 18 years the Crown committed an equally callous act according to the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said when Lesley and Gil Elliott should be enjoying their Grandchildren they will be doing battle with the Parole Board to keep Sophie’s killer behind bars.

"Weatherston gets a credit for the time already served while awaiting trial – even though he was responsible for dragging proceedings out – which means in about 16 ½ years the Elliotts will be obliged to go before the Parole Board to argue their case why the killer of their daughter should not be released."

"What happened in the Christchurch Court yesterday is symbolic of how barbaric and cruel New Zealand’s so called Justice System has become."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.