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Allegations of abuse
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Home / police allegations / Rickards,
Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 5 - Further Reaction to
Not Guilty Verdict |
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A comment by one of this country’s
most senior lawyers suggesting ‘half of New Zealand was into group sex’has
horrified justice watchdog group The Sensible Sentencing Trust, who say the
remark was symbolic of deep seated problems within the legal system. John Haigh, QC, made the statement
outside court after his client, disgraced Police Commissioner Clint Rickards
and two other former policemen were acquitted on charges of kidnapping and
indecently assaulting a woman in 1984. Although he has since said his
comments were a “throw-away remark”, the Trust said it showed a disgraceful
lack of respect for common decency and showed yet again the disdain those
working in the justice system had for victims. “If a QC is prepared to make that
sort of comment outside the Court it brings into question what they are
prepared to say inside the Court,” said Trust spokesman, Garth McVicar. “At least outside the Court the
public can decide what they want to believe, but often such comments made
inside the Court before a jury go unchecked and are deliberately aimed at
trying to make the accused look good at the expense of the victim.” “Victims have no representation in
Court and are unable to defend themselves once comments like this have done
the damage. A retraction still leaves the slur and the mud sticks.” Mr. McVicar believed similar
tactics in a recent case he was involved with had been responsible for the
offender being found guilty of manslaughter instead of murder due to
unethical tactics by the defence council, and the fact the jury did not know
the past history of the offender. “If the legal fraternity is
prepared to sink so low simply to make their client look good it is a
terrible slur and indictment on the system itself.” “We believe it is time for the
jury to know the past history of offenders and victims to have legal
representation in Court to ensure a balance is brought into what has become a
criminal-centred legal system. |
