Weak Sentences for Rape Encourages More of the Same – Says Trust


3rd August 2017

“The question must be asked, are these pathetic sentences contributing to our escalating criminal behaviour and ballooning prison population.” Guthrie
The Sensible Sentencing Trust is disgusted that two 20-year-old Christchurch men have received sentences of less than four years imprisonment before being eligible for parole for violently raping a 15-year-old girl in her own home.

“What normal human being thinks this kind of behaviour is remotely acceptable?” said Trust Child Abuse spokesman Scott Guthrie.

“The men’s defence was that the girl – who was severely intoxicated at the time – consented. Even after the court heard witness testimony that the victim had to be carried to the room where the offending took place” Guthrie said.

“This is not a case where three consenting adults had sex. This is a disgusting offence where two male adults, Brooke Christie Rolleston and Brandon James Roche, forcibly raped an innocent 15-year-old un-consenting girl while she was so intoxicated she couldn’t walk.”

“They cannot claim that they were unaware of her age. According to the evidence, there had been electronic messaging between one of the offenders and the victim some weeks prior to the offending but that doesn’t equate to consent. Here we have two men who callously took advantage of a much younger vulnerable underage girl. And what does Judge Alistair Garland give these sexual predators?”

“Rolleston gets eleven years two months imprisonment and Roche got ten years and nine months but typical to true Kiwi justice there was no minimum sentence imposed meaning only one third of the sentence must be served, making these two rapists eligible for prole in less than four years’ time.”
“This also raises the question of how can the judicial system expect these offenders to be rehabilitated ready for release in such a short time frame.” said Guthrie.

“Judge Garland must know how wrong and weak this sentence is and the question needs to be asked, are these pathetic sentences contributing to New Zealands escalating criminal behaviour and ballooning prison population?” ENDS

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/95379773/brandon-roche-and-brooke-rolleston-jailed-for-more-than-a-decade-each-for-raping-15yearold-girl-at-party

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