19 March 2002

SLAVICH CASE - IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE

Following further questions in the House today regarding the lack of consultation between the National Parole Board and the widow of Steven Slavich before Mr Slavich's killers release, it now is evident that this level of tardiness extends all the way to the Ministers Wellington office.

"Today I received an acknowledgement, not any answers - just an acknowledgement, to the letter I wrote to the Minister on 20 February ! Mr Dunne said today.

Time Line:

21 February, 2002: Letter from Hon Peter Dunne to Minister of Corrections alerting him to the feelings of the Slavich family in light of reports that Mr Slavich's killer was due for release without any opportunity of the Slavich family to have any input into this decision.

27 February 2002: Letter sent from Department of Corrections advising Mrs Slavich that a parole hearing was to be held on 5 March 2002. There was no offer to attend, merely that she would be advised of their decision (Mrs Slavich received this letter on 1 March 2002)

TODAY 3.00PM: A letter from the Minister of Corrections office acknowledging receipt of the letter Mr Dunne sent on 21 February 2002. This letter is dated 21 February and appears to have taken 25 days (and, strangely enough, to arrive after Question Time) to travel six floors of Bowen House.

" That's over four days per floor that this letter took to deliver -and still doesn't answer our concerns, just tells us the points we raised'"....are being considered.'

" This case reeks of incompetence at all levels of this Department."

ENDS

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