Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

What price life asks Conservative Party

What price life asks Conservative Party

The Conservative Party are asking what is the price of life if the killer of a defenceless homeless man who was viciously beaten and left to die was jailed for just 11 and a half years.

Justice Spokesman for the Conservatives, Garth McVicar said the case brought into question what a life was worth. “Here we have a homeless man who had significant disabilities from a previous head injury getting viciously assaulted by a thug who had already assaulted someone else the same evening getting sentenced too little above the minimum sentence for murder.”

Steven Churchis, 18, attacked Edwin Linder with a "martial arts-style kick" then punched and stomped on his head while he lay on the ground.

Mr Linder, 42, lay there for eight hours before a member of the public called an ambulance. He died in hospital three days after the assault.


Justice Geoffrey Venning imposed a mandatory life sentence and a minimum period of imprisonment which took into consideration the offender's youth and remorse.

But McVicar said the starting point for such a vicious offence was 17 years. “To allow a discount for feigned remorse and add nothing for the earlier violent assault was tantamount to adding insult to injury. If this young thug was really remorseful he could have helped Mr Linder when he returned six hours after the original assault and found him barely breathing. Instead he threatened his accomplice; I'll beat you to a pulp twice as worse as the other two" and did nothing to assist his dying victim.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Obviously this young thug is a nasty piece of work that has been able to get through life by dishing out violence to anyone who crossed his path. Rather than showing sympathy to the killer the Judge should have taken the opportunity to send a message to all and sundry that society will not tolerate this type of behaviour.”

“Judges are supposed to be the gate keepers for the community but this Judge let his community down badly.”

McVicar added that a priority for the Conservatives when elected would be introducing real time sentences so that sentences given would be sentence served. “The current parole system will be scrapped and a life sentence will mean life without parole.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.