Press release from the Sensible Sentencing Trust:

5th March 2007

Group Sex Comments Slur on Legal Fraternity Says Watchdog

A comment by one of this country’s most senior lawyers suggesting ‘half of New Zealand was into group sex’has horrified justice watchdog group The Sensible Sentencing Trust, who say the remark was symbolic of deep seated problems within the legal system.

John Haigh, QC, made the statement outside court after his client, disgraced Police Commissioner Clint Rickards and two other former policemen were acquitted on charges of kidnapping and indecently assaulting a woman in 1984.

Although he has since said his comments were a “throw-away remark”, the Trust said it showed a disgraceful lack of respect for common decency and showed yet again the disdain those working in the justice system had for victims.

“If a QC is prepared to make that sort of comment outside the Court it brings into question what they are prepared to say inside the Court,” said Trust spokesman, Garth McVicar.

“At least outside the Court the public can decide what they want to believe, but often such comments made inside the Court before a jury go unchecked and are deliberately aimed at trying to make the accused look good at the expense of the victim.”

“Victims have no representation in Court and are unable to defend themselves once comments like this have done the damage. A retraction still leaves the slur and the mud sticks.”

Mr. McVicar believed similar tactics in a recent case he was involved with had been responsible for the offender being found guilty of manslaughter instead of murder due to unethical tactics by the defence council, and the fact the jury did not know the past history of the offender.

“If the legal fraternity is prepared to sink so low simply to make their client look good it is a terrible slur and indictment on the system itself.”

“We believe it is time for the jury to know the past history of offenders and victims to have legal representation in Court to ensure a balance is brought into what has become a criminal-centred legal system.

ENDS

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