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Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
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Waikato double-murderer
Gresham Marsh, who is due to appear before the parole board in September, is reported
to have been offered more than $20,000 from the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is
to pay the money on the back of a claim by Marsh that he is one of 36 people
to have suffered abuse as a child while staying in the church's care. The army has declined
to comment on individual cases, but Major Alistair Herring said court action
was still a possibility for people with claims against the organisation. "We don't have any
court cases pending," he said. Not all people with
claims against the army were paid compensation, he said. Some received
counselling only. It is understood Marsh
will use the cash to have his tattoos removed, change his name and receive
counselling, ahead of his possible release later this year. He and accomplice Leith
Ray murdered Te Akau couple John and Josie Harrisson during a bungled
burglary in 1994. Marsh, then 22, shot
the couple when they woke up during the home invasion. Sensible Sentencing
Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said the Salvation Army should not pay any
money to Marsh. If a wrong-doing needed
to be righted, it should have gone through the normal (court) process, he
said. "We've donated to
the Salvation Army before but won't be doing it again. "We are dead
against anybody getting a name change. People need to be accountable and
responsible for their actions, and a name change is one way Marsh is shirking
responsibility for his actions." The Waikato Times has a
copy of a letter supposedly sent by Marsh to Mr McVicar. In it Marsh threatened
legal action against the Sensible Sentencing Trust and his own family. He claimed the trust
was helping his own family and his victim's family to mount a campaign
against his impending release. "You and your
trust are not my judges. I have been judged by the law as it stands and
that's whether you agree or not agree." But Mr McVicar said he
never received a copy of the letter. "It was sent to
the Herald as a publicity stunt. It's caused a lot of grief." Marsh was stretching
the imagination of people about his abuse as a child, Mr McVicar said:
"I don't think there's any sincere level of remorse." --------------- Caption: Garth McVicar - Won't donate to Salvation
Army. |
