Judge Abuses Female Victim (Again)!!!

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is calling on the Solicitor-General to appeal Justice Raynor Asher’s fatally flawed decision to grant a sexual predator permanent name suppression, to the Court of Appeal.

“This decision smacks of the old boy network that still seems to exist in pockets of the legal profession in NZ” states Ruth Money, Trust Spokesperson.

“Similar to other dubious name suppression decisions publicised recently, this offender was also a lawyer, this time from the Hawkes Bay.”

“Child abuse, whether sexual or violent, thrives on the anonymity given to offenders. When are Judges like Asher going to align their decisions with contemporary public opinion and name these predators so the rest of the public can be safe?” says Money.

“If victims and survivors want the offender named then that is the ONLY consideration that should be made. No Judge should abuse victims further by making a determination that the offender, who made a choice to offend, comes before the victims – it’s that simple.

“The ‘extreme hardship’ provision is a weasel clause being used to protect offenders with greater status and networks – such as lawyers and judges” states Money.

“The victim in this case was a child when she was sexually assaulted (as was a second child) by this predator, but the Judge sides with him – it’s disgraceful and the decision, which was against the Solicitor-Generals’ appeal must be tested at the Court of Appeal.”

Stop the Suppression is just one of 11 election year proposals from the Trust. For more details see:

www.stopthesuppression.co.nz

ENDS

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