Moko petition launched to outlaw plea bargains

31st May 2016

"The politicians have made a colossal mistake with this but they need to admit it, apologise to the public, and ensure this nonsense can never be repeated. Our children deserve a lot better deal than our politicians and Courts are delivering at present." McVicar

A petition calling for a law change to outlaw the practice of plea bargain negotiations initiated by Crown Prosecutors has been launched by the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

Trust Founder, Garth McVicar said the petition was to ensure a review of “any and all legislation that encouraged Crown Solicitors to enter into plea bargains to severely reduce charges and in some cases dispose of cases.”

“While the plea bargain debacle that allowed Moko’s murder to be downgraded to manslaughter seems to be an unintended consequence of changes designed to reduce cost pressures on Crown Law, it is none the less totally unacceptable.”

McVicar said the petition was available as an online version via the following link:https://www.change.org/p/new-zealand-parliament-justice-for-moko-standupnewzealand-justiceformoko And as a pop-up and print at www.sst.org.nz

There have already been a number of marches and Hikoi around New Zealand. To ensure th momentum continues the Sensible Sentencing Trust is coordinating a series of nationwide rallies to be held at every Courthouse at 9am on the 27th June, the day Moko’s killers are to be sentenced in Rotorua.

McVicar said judging by public and social media feedback the events would be massive. “Some Court staff are already telling us that they are preparing for an unprecedented turn-out.
“The Moko case sets a terrible precedent and like it or not every defence lawyer will now refer to this case when acting on behalf of any child killer in the future.”

“The politicians have made a colossal mistake with this but they need to admit it, apologise to the public and ensure this nonsense can never be repeated. Our children deserve a lot better deal than our politicians and Courts are delivering at present.”

“The Justice for Moko campaign and petition is to ensure that happens.”

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