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The Peter Ellis web
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Australian judge Rodney Madgwick
has delivered a verdict that effectively says that those accused of
historical sex abuse allegations in New Zealand are unable to get a fair
trial. This judgment follows the recent petition associated with
the Christchurch Creche case concerned with similar issues. The
petition requested a commission of inquiry, headed by an overseas judge, into
the way sex abuse allegations are investigated and prosecuted in NZ. Peterellis.org.nz renews calls for
such a commission of inquiry to take place urgently, spokesperson Brian
Robinson said today. "New Zealand is reaping the
consequences of failing to deal honestly and effectively with the failure of
justice in the Christchurch Creche case, both in the conduct of the
investigation and trial and the provision of remedies afterwards." Sex abuse is a terrible crime, but
countering such abuse is not advanced by locking up innocent men, or
condoning a system that has been branded by Judge Madgwick as "unjust
and oppressive". Peterellis.org.nz also calls on
all lawyers who have rushed in with knee-jerk reactions to defend the system,
to step back a while, and actually read the full judgment of Rodney
Madgwick. The appropriate action is not to whinge that NZ is being
treated unfairly but to fix the glaring defects in our legal system.
Madgwick's comments equate our judicial system to that of a banana republic,
as lawyer John Miller has pointed out. Rather than
petulantly calling out "nonsense" and "bizarre" lawyers
would be better advised to make suggestions to improve our justice system -
to at least the standard, or better - of what is expected in Australia.
ENDS |
