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Archived Press Releases 2010 16th August 2010

GET CRIMINALS OUT OF COURTROOM AND IN FRONT OF CAMERA, SAYS JUSTICE WATCHDOG

(16th August 2010)

The head of a justice watchdog group who sat in the courtroom while convicted killer George Baker interrogated witnesses and intimidated jurors while mounting his own defence says a video link from prison should be the only way a convicted criminal can participate.

Garth McVicar from the Sensible Sentencing Trust was left shocked and appalled by the manner in which Baker conducted himself during his trail for violent crimes committed while in prison for the murder of Liam Ashley.

His flagrant abuse of his role, which allowed him access to juror's personal details including addresses, showed that the justice system was once again putting the rights of the criminal ahead of victims and even members of the public compelled to sit on a jury.

"This time the justice system has gone one step too far. It has allowed a convicted criminal to undermine the very fabric of our community which is that members of the public compelled to sit on a jury should feel safe," said Mr McVicar.

"If a convicted criminal wants to represent themselves, public safety should come ahead of their rights and they should conduct their defence via a video link from behind bars, where they have been put for a reason, to protect public safety."

Video links were already widely used in New Zealand courtrooms and it would offer the community maximum security for minimal cost if prisoners were not brought into a public court room every day at considerable risk and expense.

"The cost of this charade had been astronomical, not just in a financial sense, but because it has undermined a system which should be putting the safety of jurors ahead of the rights of criminals."

Mr McVicar said the judge's constant referral to Baker by his Christian name added insult to injury and made the court process appear utterly unprofessional.

"For a Judge to be on a first name basis with a convicted killer who is on trial before him makes a mockery of the so-called Justice system. Not even qualified defence lawyers are referred to by their Christian names. During the entire trial, the Judge bent over backwards to accommodate Baker's every wish and make the process as easy as he could for him. It was easy to forget that Barker was a violent killer on trail for further offences because he was wrapped in cotton wool throughout the entire process."

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Further comment from Garth McVicar can be viewed at Yahoo News