Dr Wayne Mapp
National North Shore MP

18 December 2002

National welcomes Howse sentence

The National Party is applauding the historic 28-year non-parole period handed down to Bruce Howse in Wellington today for the brutal murders of Olympia Jetson and Saleil Aplin.

"This record setting sentence is just the sort of message we want to send to the worst killers," says Dr Wayne Mapp

"National fought hard at the Justice and Electoral Select Committee to toughen up the sentencing laws, and all New Zealanders will be delighted the Judiciary is taking up the challenge," says Dr Mapp, who was the National Party representative on that Committee.

"Under the bill that was presented by Justice Minister Phil Goff, Judges were not compelled to give a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for the worst murderers.

"National fought hard for that change

"And it was a good thing the Government listened, because without that change we wouldn't be seeing the much tougher sentences like that dished out to Bruce Howse today," says Dr Mapp.

"We'll be watching with interest what happens with the minimum non-parole period for RSA triple murderer William Duane Bell, who's arguably even worse than Howse.

"National believes they're both candidates for life without parole.

"The public expect that people like Howse and Bell will never be released back into the community to threaten others," Dr Mapp says.

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