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

 

Insane Law Perverting Course of Justice: SST

Insane Law Perverting Course of Justice: SST

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is slamming a decision which may acquit a Whakatane offender of serious dangerous driving charges.

Forty year old Cohen McConnell was charged with failing to stop, driving dangerously, disorderly behaviour and refusing to give blood following a head on collision in Whakatane in March. Two of the charges carry a maximum 5 year jail term.

Following the incident Cohen fled the scene, allegedly dousing herself in petrol before being restrained by members of the public.

Cohen’s lawyer, Gene Tombinson, has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Sensible Sentencing Trust mental health issues spokesman, Graeme Moyle, is critical of the insanity defence and has been advocating change for the past six years.

“Should McConnell be acquitted due to insanity, it will be a travesty of justice and an affront to the victim in this case” Moyle says. “McConnell will escape conviction and evade any form of accountability in relation to her offending, leaving her victim with no sense of justice”.

In order to reform the current verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity the Sensible Sentencing Trust has been lobbying the Government to adopt the Trusts proposed verdict of proven but insane.
“A proven but insane verdict would be a more acceptable verdict to victims” Moyle said, “attaching accountability to the offender and registering a conviction”.

“The current verdict does not allow this, is flawed and well overdue for reform”.
“Victims must be at the forefront of any judicial verdict, acquitting offenders due to insanity is a denial of this fundamental right”.
Numbers of Interest.

560 The percentage increase in insanity acquittals since 2002
33 The number of times daily, Police are called to incidents involving the mentally ill.
10 The number of times daily St John are called to incidents involving the mentally ill.
22000 The number of mental health or suicide related calls received by Police last year.

ENDS

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.

© 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.