Victims challenge the Courts over lenient sentences

3rd August 2017

Ground breaking legislation in the United Kingdom allows victims to challenge the courts over lenient sentences and Victims in New Zealand believe it is time to do the same here.

Leigh Woodman’s daughter, Vanessa, was murdered and Leigh says it is time to give victims a voice and a say in sentencing of the offenders.

Jayne Walker whose 3 year old daughter, Brittany, was killed in a home invasion agrees and says that if she had a say in sentencing of the offender it would have given her faith in the system and the opportunity to regain some semblance of a normal life without having to worry about when the offender might be released.

Leigh and Jayne say the UK scheme has proved so effective that the Attorney General now wants to extend it to a wider range of crimes, including domestic violence.

“Does New Zealand have a Political Party with the courage to give victims a real voice in the system as has been done in the United Kingdom?”

“It is not until you have become a victim of crime in New Zealand that you realise how very few rights you have. Thrust unwittingly into this horrific situation, victims are often left feeling dis-enfranchised, minimised and disempowered at every turn by a system that affords very few rights to the victim.”

“The scheme in the United Kingdom allows victims to challenge the courts over lenient sentences. It is time to do the same here; give our victims a voice and a choice!” ENDS
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/834612/tougher-sentences-victims-and-families-force-court

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