14 July 2005

Capill apologises to New Zealand but not to his victims

The disgraced former Christian Heritage party leader and police prosecutor was today sentenced to nine years prison for multiple child sex offences including rape.

In a press release read out after his sentencing, Capill acknowledged that his offending had let down his family and the people of New Zealand, to whom he apologised. Yet in his 8-line statement no apologies were directed to his victims or acknowledgement made of the harm caused to them.

Denise Ritchie of Stop Demand Foundation, a group working to end sexual violence against children, says “One would expect apologies to be directed first to his victims, well before his family and ‘the people of New Zealand’. Capill’s attempt to appease his family, the wider community and God suggests that this is still all about Graham Capill.

A truly remorseful and humble stance would have been to start with an outright apology to his victims and demonstrate some insight into the long-term harm he has done to them.”

ENDS

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