19 Comments
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Sylvia's avatar

Tb be honest, I struggle with the concept of 'good character' as a reason to discount a sentence. Unless a person acted under some sort of undue influence, it simply doesn't carry weight in context of such crimes.

I suggest it would be hard to argue that a person in possession of over 11k objectionable images is indeed of, good character. Those concepts are mutually exclusive.

And I agree , this case truly emanates the stench of corruption.

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Joe Blogs's avatar

Previous good character is completely lost when convicted of a charge. Previous offending should be an aggravating factor in sentencing. By that logic, good character in the past should just mean you won't get extra penalties for not having learned your lesson.

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David Hancock's avatar

Courage itself is pretty thin on the ground in the country everywhere it seems. Even the courage of your convictions. At least you don’t suffer from it.

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Aroha's avatar

I've come across more fragrant rats than this judges decision! She's done nothing for trust in our current judicial system.

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Kevin Sorensen's avatar

Throughout the book of Proverbs there are numerous types of fool and how to deal with them. Apart from youthful innocuous stupidity they all have to endure public shame of some sort. Our Law makers and judges come close to falling into one of those categories.

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doomadgee's avatar

Totally agree with Nigel's comment "Name suppression should be used only to protect victims of sexual offending. No other reason. No exceptions. Not even for underage offenders. Name suppression until conviction is the only way to uphold the concept of “innocent until proven guilty”

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Nigel Kearney's avatar

Name suppression should be used only to protect victims of sexual offending. No other reason. No exceptions. Not even for underage offenders.

Yes it is possible to imagine examples where it would be harder to have a fair trial if the accused was named in the media beforehand. But that is the tail wagging the dog. The benefits would be small compared to the cost.

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Christopher Fidoe's avatar

This sort of thing makes me wonder that the swings of feminism have gone too far when they get in positions of power and do not act rationally

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Katrina's avatar

Wow. Quite an interesting comment there Christopher.

Are you saying women should not be in positions of power? Are you saying “they” (as in all women in power) act irrationally?

One bad decision by a judge (who happens to be female) doesn’t mean all women in powerful positions should be tarred with the same brush.

I’m not sure if I’m more outraged by this particular judge’s poor decision, or by your comment!

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Louise's avatar

As a woman I think that women are under performing (relative to non preferred counterparts) in many areas of society where they also get preferential treatment. I'm sick of the destruction they are causing to the point where I almost agree that women voting has had poor outcomes for our country. And that's speaking as a successful, independent non religious 45 yr old woman.

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Katrina's avatar

Louise, apologies if I have misunderstood your comment, but are you saying that this country would be better off if women weren’t allowed to vote?

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Louise's avatar

I'm saying I hear the issue. Personally I'd be outraged to lose the vote. But given that most of my peers are hell bent on destroying out country, I'd be prepared to give it up if all these middle class women who are swept away by a smile and a "be kind" and who lack any kind of understanding of how destructive they are, also lost their vote.

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Katrina's avatar

Thanks for clarifying Louise. I understand your sentiment. The “kindness” approach is often accompanied with eyes firmly shut to what is actually going on in our country. So in that respect I agree with your comment 😊

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Christopher Fidoe's avatar

My wife is a better judge - look at Jacinda as another one that went too far, we are all equal but feminism made some more equal than others DEI? Maggie Thatcher, Elizabeth II were wonderful, examples of common sense it did not matter whether male or female

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RB's avatar

Yes DEI and the duming down of society we may still have a warship it wasn't for this nonsense give the best person the job

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Katrina's avatar

I agree - it doesn’t matter whether the person is male or female - a poor decision is a poor decision!

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A Halfling’s View's avatar

Fair comment Peter. There are arguments for and against. Problem is that only the most egregious cases get reported. Most of those appearaing neither seek nor are granted suppression.

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TC's avatar

Name suppression until conviction is the only way to uphold the concept of “innocent until proven guilty”, something to which we are all entitled under the law. Wrongful accusations can be life ruining.

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Dave's avatar

If you had not figured it out, Pedophilia is driving and behind almost all of these things. Its tentacles run deep and are seemingly well entrenched in high places of authority in most countries with NZ catching up fast. All pretty sad.

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