Judge brings Court into disrepute

The Sensible Sentencing Trust have accused a Judge of bringing the “Whole Justice System into disrepute” after the father of a sexually assaulted girl who lunged at her abuser in the dock was warned he could be jailed.

The furore has erupted after a man accused of sexual assault, Grant Selby, while in the dock gave the fingers to the father of the daughter he was accused of assaulting.

Judge Roberts in New Plymouth District Court said he was considering jail because the man's actions brought the court process into disrepute.

But Garth McVicar, Spokesman for Sensible Sentencing said the Judge should have “immediately charged the accused sex offender with contempt of Court”.

The court heard how the father had leapt out of his seat in the public gallery, grabbed a glass from a lawyer's desk and tried to attack Selby, yelling that he had been "messing with his kids".

“Surely it is a natural reaction for a father to respond when confronted with such arrogance from a man accused of sexually violating his daughter?”

Mr. McVicar said the Judges behaviour was “another nail in the coffin for a once reputable justice system.”

“Judges and Courts once held huge respect from the community but that had now deteriorated to the point where the public were feeling frustrated and angry.”

“If people can not have faith in the so called justice system a counter reaction from the public is only natural.”

“What this father did is perfectly understandable.

ENDS

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