Arsonists Sentence Step in the Right Direction: Sst

The sentence handed down to a Blenheim man charged with the Christmas Day arson of a Work and Income office has been welcomed by the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

The 61-year-old Blenheim man, was granted permanent name suppression, and sentenced to two years and five months in psychiatric care as a special patient when he appeared via audio visual link in the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday.

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman on mental health issues, Graeme Moyle, described the sentence as ”progressive” and “insightful”.

“Here we had Judge Mill acknowledge that an offence has been committed and has rightly convicted the offender” Mr Moyle said, “however the Judge has also recognised the offender was mentally disordered and rather than send him to prison, has ordered him to be detained in psychiatric hospital where he can receive the appropriate treatment”.

“This is a progressive, insightful and appropriate way of dealing with offenders suffering severe mental illness” Moyle says.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is currently lobbying for changes to the insanity defence proposing a change from the current ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’ defence to one of ‘proven but insane’.

“We have long advocated for changes to the insanity defence that would replicate the type of sentence handed down by Judge Mill on Tuesday”, Moyle said. “Although this man was not found to be insane he did suffer a disease of the mind and was mentally disordered”.

“This sentence is exactly what Sensible Sentencing has been proposing for those offenders who have successfully argued an insanity defence”.

“It appears the judiciary and the Sensible Sentencing Trust are not too far apart in our thinking on this form of sentence and it remains to be seen whether this National Government will amend the current insanity laws which have remained unchanged for over 170 years” Moyle said.

We understand that Justice Minister Amy Adams is currently seeking advice on the Sensible Sentencing Trusts ‘Proven but Insane’ proposal.

ENDS

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