So; human rights lawyer Michael Bott thinks that the good folk of Wanganui are being hypocritical over Stewart Murray Wilson; 3News reports:
After three heated meetings, the Wanganui District Council has decided to use all legal avenues to stop Stewart Murray Wilson, known as the 'Beast of Blenheim', being released to a house on Whanganui prison grounds.But a human rights lawyer says the Whanganui community's anger over a serial sex offender being sent to a house near its prison is hypocritical.The only other offender to live in a similar situation after release was another notorious paedophile whose victims were in Whanganui, so he was sent to Christchurch.“It seems somewhat strange that Whanganui is perfectly happy to have him go from its area, to be paroled into Christchurch or Canterbury, yet they don't want to have the same thing happen the other way around,” says human rights lawyer Michael Bott.
The Wanganui District Council has responded, via Mayor Annette Main; read on:
“We're not saying that our offenders should be sent to other places and other people's offender shouldn't be sent here," says Mayor Annette Main. "This particular case has been hoisted on us at short notice and we simply are reacting to the community's concerns.”Those concerns saw the council last night push for a judicial review of the decision, and try to prevent resource consent for the property being built for Wilson, which councillor Michael Laws says will be costly, but necessary.“You're a representative of the people you represent and the community is united, I've never seen a community like this in the history of Whanganui,” says Mr Laws.The council is also considering a campaign of community trespassing or shunning of Wilson, something Mt Bott says will lead to acts of vigilantism.
2 comments:
Just like I can't help wondering if the people of Christchurch are perhaps a great deal more tolerant and mature than the people of Wanganui [and that must include your good self] as we didn't create a fuss when your convicted paedophile was foisted on us.It is essential when these sort of people are paroled that they are made to live in differenr regions to their victims.
And yes I am in Christchurch and your silly remarks about Wilson coming to live with Mr Bott or for that matter me are the sign of someone who has no rational argument.
I have two children and live within half a kilometre of McIntosh
@ Alan - thanks for your comment. Having met Lloyd McIntosh when I was involved in prison ministry, I can appreciate your concern.
Please bear in mind that my "We can't help but wonder" posts are generally tongue in cheek, as was my suggestion that Wilson go and live with Michael Bott who is good at suggesting solutions for Other People. I have been critical of what I have described as the "pitchforks and bonfires brigade" who want to dispense summary justice to Wilson; it does no-one any credit to advocate vigilante justice. Ultimately, we are going to have to live with Wilson in our neighbourhood.
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