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