Category: New Zealand Associations and Organisaitons

Source: Family First – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Right To Silence Rules Hiding Abusers, Call For Review

Media Release 16 March 2018
Family First NZ is repeating its call for a review of ‘right to silence’ laws which is effectively hindering investigations into child abuse. Family First has previously made this plea as a result of the Coroner’s report into the death of 7-month-old Staranise Waru from Christchurch, and the deaths of the Kahui twins.

“The right of the parents and caregivers to refuse to answer questions during a police investigation meant that the truth surrounding the death of Waru and the Kahui twins was effectively withheld. That is now being repeated with the latest case of a four-month-old baby girl in Auckland,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Child abusers are able to hide behind their right to silence – and children are the ultimate victims.”

“Parents, caregivers, relatives and those in contact with a victim of serious child abuse should be held accountable until they fully disclose their involvement and demonstrate their innocence.”

“We now have victims of child abuse screaming for justice and nobody held to account.”

In 2011, the country’s leading authority on child protection questioned the right to silence for defendants in some child-abuse cases. Starship hospital’s director of child protection, Dr Patrick Kelly, told the inquest into the death of the Kahui twins that he was disappointed proposed legislation from the National Government did not include some limitations on the right to silence.

“The rights of victims to justice and the urgent need for offenders to be held accountable far outweighs the right to silence and other privileges that families may seek to use to mask their guilt or involvement.”

“The laws should be changed to reflect this priority.”
ENDS

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Source: Family First – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Police Right To Investigate Promotion & Enabling of Suicide

Media Release 15 March 2018
Family First NZ says police are absolutely correct to be investigating, shutting down and prosecuting the promotion of suicide in New Zealand, and especially the operations of Philip Nitschke.

“The intent of the police was correct when checking on supporters of Exit International. Nitschke promotes suicide, has left a trail of destruction, and is evidence of just how far some euthanasia advocates will take an assisted suicide law if it was ever introduced. Just last year, Nitschke was exposed for selling suicide kits disguised as equipment for home-brewing beer. No controls. Just a credit card required. Vulnerable people are being exploited by his agenda and the police need to protect NZ’ers from him and groups associated with him,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

The Medical Board of Australia has imposed 25 strict conditions on Nitschke who they rightly believe “presents a serious risk to public health and safety”. In 2014 Nitschke came under fire from two Australian suicide prevention organisations, Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute, after his involvement in the suicide of a physically healthy 45-year-old Australian man, Nigel Brayley. Complaints have also been made regarding the suicides of Erin Berg, a 39-year-old mother suffering from post-natal depression who died an agonizing death from euthanasia drugs; Lucas Taylor, a 26-year-old suffering from hidden depression; Gillian Clark, a 47-year-old who was undergoing medical tests; and Joe Waterman, a physically healthy 25-year-old, among others.

The 2015 Victorian state government inquiry into end-of-life choices found that young and physically healthy people were killing themselves using a drug recommended by euthanasia groups – the same drug being recommended in NZ. The majority of those suicides were young people who were physically healthy, but mentally ill.

A Wellington woman ended her life with Nembutal in 2008, after receiving advice on how to obtain it from Dr Nitschke. She was a life-member of EXIT and was suffering from depression but was physically fit and not suffering a terminal illness.

“Nitschke defends the right of someone to take their own life, even when fit and healthy. New Zealanders reject this destructive message and the police are right to be prosecuting and investigating groups in order to remove this risk to vulnerable NZ’ers,” says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS

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Source: Family First – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Bail Laws Protect Families, Must Be Maintained

Media Release 6 March 2018
Family First NZ says that the current bail laws which were strengthened in 2013 protect families from repeat and high-risk offenders and are designed to prevent repeats of the Christie Marceau tragedy.

“Public safety should be the court’s primary consideration, and the burden of proof must be on those charged with the worst offences and with the highest risk of reoffending while on bail. The Coroner’s report emphasises the importance of information-sharing between agencies to ensure that the courts make the right decision which prioritises public safety and considers the needs and protection of victims,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“There were many reasons why the law was changed and should not be repealed or weakened by the current government. Natasha Hayden was slain by Tauranga man Michael Curran at McLaren Falls in 2005 while he was awaiting trial for the murder of 2-year-old Tauranga toddler Aaliyah Morrissey. 17-year-old Augustine Borrell was stabbed to death at a party in the Auckland suburb of Herne Bay in 2007 by Haiden Davis who was on bail for another violent crime. Vanessa Pickering was murdered by Malcolm Chaston while he was on bail. The man accused of Auckland teenager Christie Marceau was on bail at the time of the alleged murder. Last year Ramnitesh Avinash had been in court for threatening to kill his partner, Inayat Kawthar, and assault with a weapon. Police opposed bail, but the community magistrate let him go. Ten days later, his 24-year-old partner was dead, fatally stabbed by her boyfriend in South Auckland before he died by a railway track in the area.”

“Ministry of Justice figures released in 2012 revealed that 23 people were convicted of murders committed while free on bail over a five-year period, and a further 21 were convicted of “homicide-related” offences committed while on bail, including manslaughter, attempted murder and driving causing death. Over the same period, almost 70,000 offenders committed new crimes after being released on bail.”

“The number of serious crimes previously committed while on bail proved the urgent need for improving public safety, and to ensure that those accused of serious offences would find it more difficult to get bail,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“The simple fact is that crimes cannot be committed when a person is incarcerated. That is part of the reason why our crime rate has been dropping.”

“Bail is a privilege, not a right – and the rights of the public to protection from repeat and high-risk offenders should take precedence.”
ENDS

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