Protest At Parliament - The Right Place

The May incident referred to in the House today was that of a young man who rode his motorbike on Parliamentary lawns, protesting murderer Nika Abraham's inadequate sentence. It was one of the most justified protests Parliament has seen in years, ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

"Danny Alkema, the young man referred to by New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters, was the son of Abraham's victim Kate Alkema. He and his family were denied justice in Abraham's woefully inadequate sentence," Mr Franks said.

"The Alkema family was forced to sit and watch the State coddle Abraham - offering him legal aid, and protecting him with sentencing laws that are all about the `criminological' needs of the offender - while barely acknowledging the victim.

"Abraham was given 13 years, meaning he will be free with more years of his life to enjoy than he allowed Kate Alkema. His appeal - again, on legal aid - was an insult, forcing the Alkema family to hear lies about the person brutally taken from them.

"Danny Alkema wanted the blame to go where it should - at the Government that stops courts giving the sentences they feel are justified by the crime. While a protest motive does not exempt people from the normal processes of the law, it is fitting that Danny Alkema was not charged on that day. I support the Speaker's office role then. The outcome was humane.

"Hopefully, one day, Danny Alkema will feel that someone at Parliament paid attention, when he sees truth in sentencing, and knows that a life sentence for offenders like his mother's murderer will really mean life," Mr Franks said.

© Scoop Media