Violent criminal released on bail a travesty

Thursday 13 Jan 2005

Dr Muriel Newman -Press Releases - Crime & Justice

ACT Deputy Leader and Police spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today blamed the Labour Government's soft-on-crime laws for resulting in a violent offender, who had threatened to kill his victim, being out on bail instead of behind bars.

"This case, in which a woman was raped, bound and abducted by a Northland man is shocking. Yet, in spite of the horrific circumstances - and his history of violence and lawbreaking - he has been released on bail pending a court appearance in two weeks time," Dr Newman said.

"While the bail conditions that have been imposed are stringent, Paparoa is a rural area with such a low police presence that bail breaches could well go un-noticed.

"This outcome, whereby a violent offender is at large in a community, while the victim fears for her life, is at odds with two similar cases in Rotorua. In both of these cases involving sexual violation and extreme violence against women, bail was refused.

"Speculation as to why bail was granted in this case centers on the lack of remand prison beds. While some beds are available in Northland police cells, holding someone locally until 26 January would be untenable.

"That our justice system will allow a violent offender to remain at large in the community instead of being safely locked behind bars is a travesty. The Government must accept full responsibility for being so soft-on-crime that this debacle has been allowed to happen," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

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