13 December 2007

Bail Decision Beggars Belief

New Zealand First law and order spokesman Ron Mark says that a decision by a Youth Court judge to bail a young offender following a second serious charge beggars belief.

The youth was on bail awaiting sentence on a charge of aggravated robbery, and breached his bail. While police were out looking for him, he was allegedly raping a 15 year old girl.

“The decision to bail him at all is appalling, especially given the police’s opposition,” said Mr Mark.

“To bail him to his home, where his family obviously doesn’t give a damn and from where he already absconded at the weekend to allegedly commit rape, borders on the insane.

“Of late, during the deliberations of my Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill, I have listened ad nauseam to those involved in the Youth Justice system telling me that young people are being held accountable, and that there are already provisions in place to send youth offenders to the District Court for serious crimes.

“I call aggravated robbery a serious crime, and yet this young man was still dealt with in the Youth Court, and was to be sentenced in the Youth Court rather than being transferred to the District Court.

“I can only imagine what this decision has done to his young victim. When is the Youth Court going to take victims into account instead of worrying about the sensibilities of vicious young mongrels?” asked Mr Mark.

“Under the terms of my bill, he would have been in the District Court to begin with. It has taken a rape charge to put him there now,” he concluded.

ENDS

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