Media Release

10 October 2007

Self Defence Laws Need Scrutiny - Mark

New Zealand First law & order spokesperson Ron Mark today called for New Zealand’s self-defence laws to be re-defined after questioning the sentence given to a victim who defended himself against a gang of thugs.

“What are the different circumstances for Greg Carvell, Daniel Ball, Shyan Ricky Hill and the police officers who responded with lethal force against Stephen Wallace and Stephen Bellingham?” asked Mr Mark.

“Greg Carvell shot and wounded a machete wielding intruder in his gun shop: he was charged and dragged through the courts. Daniel Ball, minding his own business one night, suffered a bottle to the head, could not defend himself against his attacker and ended up in Emergency, nearly losing an eye.

“Shyan Hill is an unassuming gentle giant, a hard working, law abiding citizen and trainee chef who happened to be wearing the wrong colour sweatshirt on his way home from work late at night.

“He was set upon by a gang of thugs, not for the first time, but this time he defended himself by pulling out his only means of defence – one of his working tools which happened to be a chef’s knife. Police wanted to bring charges of attempted murder against him, but following a depositions hearing he pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

“Police officers who came under attack from a single, armed individual in each of the Wallace and Bellingham cases responded with lethal force from a firearm. The public understands that they have to be able to defend themselves.

“But Greg Carvell and Shyan Hill both defended themselves in the only way they were able and their attackers did not die. Shyan Hill was faced with a group of six armed thugs yet he has been subjected to a judgement that deemed he used disproportionate force.

“The lesson is clear: don’t defend yourself, and allow yourself to end up like Daniel Ball, in hospital,” concluded Mr Mark.

ENDS

Discussion Docs: Consultation To Make Child Support Scheme Fairer

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today launched a discussion document proposing a series of options – including changing how child support is calculated – to make the scheme fairer.

Mr Dunne said he wants New Zealanders’ views on a number of options to improve a child support scheme that “is outdated and sometimes unfair”.

“The reality is that family life in New Zealand has changed considerably in the 18 years since the current scheme was introduced,” Mr Dunne said in releasing the Supporting Children discussion document. More>>