22 September 2010 Media Statement
Why isn’t McVicar standing up for the victims of Garrett’s offending?

Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove is asking why Sensible Sentencing Trust head Garth McVicar and Prime Minister John Key are failing to stand up for the victims of David Garrett’s offending.

“I am appalled that the head of an organisation that claims to represent victims effectively aided and abetted David Garrett in his cover-up of the shameful act of stealing a dead child’s identity,” Clayton Cosgrove said.

“This act caused the family of this child considerable distress and anguish, but rather than standing up for their rights Mr McVicar wrote a reference which resulted in David Garrett receiving permanent name suppression and being discharged without conviction.

“Has Garth McVicar contacted the family of the dead infant Mr Garrett stole the identity of? No, instead of doing that he has helped out a friend with no thought for the victims whatsoever,” Clayton Cosgrove said.

“When the three strikes legislation was being debated, Garth McVicar texted me to say that it was him who was looking after victims. The text message made me angry then, with its implication that no one else cared. I feel even angrier about it now.

“Clearly Mr McVicar and the entire ACT Party are hypocrites. Each time they spoke about the three strikes legislation and the impact crime has on victims they knew that they one of their own had committed a heinous crime against a family and yet they said nothing.

“John Key has joined this ‘select’ band of hypocrites by continuing to praise Rodney Hide’s judgement as a minister.”

ENDS

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