18 January 2007

Mark Calls For Support On Youth Bill

Reports that the 15-year-old remanded in connection to the murder of Doreen Reed was already on bail on dishonesty charges at the time of the murder have come as no big surprise to New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark.

“I would be extremely surprised if the young man is not already well-known to police as a recidivist offender with a long list of prior offending,” said Mr Mark.

“This appalling act of extreme violence allegedly carried out by such a young person is sadly becoming an increasingly common occurrence, and such acts are often the culmination of long- established and escalating offending. It is rare that a person will get up one day and suddenly decide to go out and commit a murder out of nowhere.

“As writer Jean Baptiste Racine once wrote, “Small crimes always precede great ones. Never have we seen timid innocence pass suddenly to extreme licentiousness.”

“My Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility is all about early intervention in an effort to prevent young people continuing on the upward spiral of crime. Youngsters are being seriously failed by the current youth justice system on a regular basis,” said Mr Mark.

“Anybody who votes against my bill later this year should think about this case, and seriously examine their conscience,” he concluded.

ENDS

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