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Imprisonment for child abuser sends the right message

Thursday, 8 November 2012, 1:29 pm
Press Release: Sensible Sentencing Trust

For immediate release:

Imprisonment for child abuser sends the right message to society
and the judiciary

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has today welcomed the Court of Appeal’s ruling that home detention for a child abuser was wrong, and instead imposed imprisonment for 2 years, 5 months.

Spokesman Garth McVicar said: “This was heinous offending by James Robert Hall, the father of the four month old infant, who should have been her protector, not her abuser.

“We are delighted that the Solicitor-General heeded our call to appeal the original sentence, and that the Court of Appeal agreed with the outrage that many New Zealanders felt at the original sentence given by Judge Mary Peters.

“We hope this ruling sends a strong message to the public and Judges, that child abuse will not be tolerated in New Zealand.” ENDS

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