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Review into Corrections' handling of Robertson

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Wed, 29 Jul 2015, 11:49AM
Tony Robertson (NZME.)
Tony Robertson (NZME.)

Review into Corrections' handling of Robertson

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Wed, 29 Jul 2015, 11:49AM

UPDATED 2.30PM: An independent review will be conducted into the way the Corrections Department managed Tony Robertson when he was released from prison.

MORE: Everything done to prevent Gotingco's killer from re-offending - review

OPINION: Bloody hands in Robertson case

LISTEN: Our flawed system for dealing with high-risk offenders

The 28-year-old raped and killed Auckland woman Blessie Gotingco last year shortly after he was released from prison for molesting and kidnapping a five year old girl in Tauranga in 2005.

The family of Mrs Gotingco called for an independent inquiry - and the Corrections Minister has now confirmed that will take place.

Sam Lotu-Iiga said the Gotingco family and the public need some independent assurance about Corrections' part in the handling of the case.

He is also seeking advice on what form the review will take and who will lead it, with plans to discuss it at Cabinet on Monday.

Spokesperson for Blessie's family Ruth Money said the move was a relief given the trauma they've gone through, and since Corrections said yesterday it had done all it could.

"From what we understand of the evidence there were multiple failings in terms of the monitoring, or mis-monitoring, or mismanagement of the offender and we do think they are systemic," Money said. 

Corrections carried out its own review which found it did everything it could to manage Robertson.

But Labour Leader Andrew Little said something has clearly gone wrong.

"Somebody with this guy's risk profile, frankly being able to wander freely should never have happened."

"We need to work out how to prevent this happening in the future."

 

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